An investigation into plasma collision phenomena, crucial for technologies like nuclear fusion, was conducted utilizing plasma deflagration accelerators capable of generating reproducible, long-duration, high-velocity, and high-energy-density plasma jets. Initial work involved a comprehensive characterization of the Stanford Coaxial High EnerGy (CHENG) device, establishing its plasma jet parameters and demonstrating its utility for simulating Edge Localized Modes (ELMs). This foundational understanding enabled a subsequent study of plasma-material interactions, comparing additively manufactured and conventional fusion-relevant metals (tungsten, Inconel 625, and copper). Key findings highlight the significant influence of incident heat flux on surface damage morphology and the critical role of material homogeneity and internal imperfections in damage initiation.

Furthermore, the research details the development and commissioning of the Stanford Opposing Deflagration Accelerators (SODA) facility, a new platform for studying weakly collisional, counter-propagating plasma jet interactions relevant to inertial confinement fusion. Initial SODA experiments demonstrated controllable jet collisionality and observed significant plasma compression and heating during jet collisions, with high-speed imaging confirming stagnation region formation. While showing promise, the analysis also identified areas for future diagnostic enhancements. Overall, this work provides fundamental insights into plasma collision physics and their material effects, advancing the utility of deflagration accelerators for fusion energy research and related plasma science applications.