Abstract Details
Abstracts
Author: Kai Shih
Requested Type: Poster
Submitted: 2026-03-20 22:27:03
Co-authors: A. Tran, B. Biswas, C. Forest, S.J. Frank, I. Khalzov, A.Y. Le, M.J.Lavell, A. Soroka, A.J. Stanier, C. Stephens, D. Sutherland, J. Viola, B.A. Wetherton
Contact Info:
Realta Fusion
806 Seven Winds Trl
Verona, WI 53593
United States
Abstract Text:
We present hybrid PIC simulations using the VPIC code to study kinetic instabilities in a big
simple magnetic mirror device under development by Realta Fusion. A reduced-geometry approach
is adopted in which fully kinetic ions and fluid electrons are evolved in a 2D Cartesian (x–y)
domain with periodic boundary conditions along the mirror axis, retaining full 3D velocity space
while capturing perpendicular dynamics at reduced computational cost.
Essential mirror physics is incorporated through externally imposed forces acting on ions. A
radial electric field drives shear flows representative of experimental biasing, while a body force
mimics pressure-weighted curvature drift effects. These forces act only on particle dynamics and
are excluded from the generalized Ohm’s law.
A pitch-angle-dependent loss-cone operator is implemented to model mirror losses and sustain
anisotropic distributions. The formulation allows flexible specification of spatial force profiles and
enables studies of instability drive mechanisms. Simulations exhibit drift-driven fluctuations and
shear-modified transport, demonstrating an efficient framework for isolating key kinetic processes
in mirror configurations without the cost of global 3D simulations.
Characterization: 1.0
Comments: