Vortex rings that form at the leading edge of these jets, the researchers have shown, are mathematically similar to smoke rings, the eddies behind jellyfish and the plasma rings that fly off the surface of a supernova. Instabilities cause the formation of jets that penetrate into the hotspot, and the fuel spurts out between them - Wadas compared it to trying to squish an orange with your hands, how juice would leak out between your fingers. Part of the problem is that the fuel can't be neatly compressed. Researchers can create this reaction, merging forms of hydrogen into helium, but at present, much of the energy used in the process is wasted. This process releases several times more energy than breaking atoms apart, or fission, which powers today's nuclear plants. Nuclear fusion pushes atoms together until they merge. "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. "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. In addition, the model could help other 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. The model developed by researchers at the University of Michigan could aid in the design of the fuel capsule, minimizing the energy lost while trying to ignite the reaction that makes stars shine.
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