High density, high magnetic field concepts for compact fusion reactors
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Culham Lab., Abingdon (United Kingdom)
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
During the past year, several concepts concerned with dense plasma fusion systems have been theoretically/numerically re-examined at LLNL, with a conclusion that they may become strong candidates for future alternatives research programs. A common feature of these schemes is that they employ (a) plasmas with densities ranging from {approximately}10{sup 16} cm{sup {minus}3} up to ICF-like densities ({approximately} 10{sup 26} cm{sup {minus}3}) and (b) magnetic fields. Their salient feature is also that, if successful, they would give rise to a compact and inexpensive reactor. Their compactness means also that the proof-of-principle experiment will be relatively inexpensive; the same is true for the developmental cost. Specifically, the authors consider the following concepts: (1) liner implosion of the closed-field-line configurations; (2) flow-through pinch; (3) magnetic ignition of inertial fusion. Although the first two concepts have been known in some form for a decade or so, new developments in fusion-related science and technology (e.g., direct experimental demonstration of a high-convergence 3D liner implosion and theoretical identification of a strong favorable effect of the shear flows on the stability of the pinches) certainly make them much more attractive than before. The third concept that emerged during last one or two years, also relies on a great progress in the understanding of the properties of high-density magnetized plasma. A brief description of each concept is given here.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 383630
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-123904; CONF-961005-1; ON: DE96009703; TRN: 96:029053
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 16. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) international conference on plasma physics and controlled nuclear fusion research, Montreal (Canada), 7-11 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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