Understanding the formation of vortex rings could aid nuclear fusion researchers in compressing fuel more efficiently, bringing it closer to becoming a viable energy source. Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a model that could help in the design of the fuel capsule, minimizing energy loss while trying to ignite the reaction that makes stars shine. The model could also help engineers who must manage the mixing of fluids after a shock wave passes through, such as those designing supersonic jet engines, as well as physicists trying to understand supernovae. Nuclear fusion pushes atoms together until they merge, releasing several times more energy than breaking atoms apart. Researchers can create this reaction, but at present, much of the energy used in the process is wasted.
“These vortex rings move outward from the collapsing star, populating the universe with the materials that will eventually become nebulae, planets and even new stars—and inward during fusion implosions, disrupting the stability of the burning fusion fuel and reducing the efficiency of the reaction,” said Michael Wadas, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at U-M and corresponding author of the study. “Our research, which elucidates how such vortex rings form, can help scientists understand some of the most extreme events in the universe and bring humanity one step closer to capturing the power of nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said.
2023-05-20 07:00:04
Source from phys.org