Ignition threshold for non-Maxwellian plasmas
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)
An optically thin p-{sup 11}B plasma loses more energy to bremsstrahlung than it gains from fusion reactions, unless the ion temperature can be elevated above the electron temperature. In thermal plasmas, the temperature differences required are possible in small Coulomb logarithm regimes, characterized by high density and low temperature. Ignition could be reached more easily if the fusion reactivity can be improved with nonthermal ion distributions. To establish an upper bound for the potential utility of a nonthermal distribution, we consider a monoenergetic beam with particle energy selected to maximize the beam-thermal reactivity. Comparing deuterium-tritium (DT) and p-{sup 11}B, the minimum Lawson criteria and minimum ρR required for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) volume ignition are calculated with and without the nonthermal feature. It turns out that channeling fusion alpha energy to maintain such a beam facilitates ignition at lower densities and ρR, improves reactivity at constant pressure, and could be used to remove helium ash. On the other hand, the reactivity gains that could be realized in DT plasmas are significant, the excess electron density in p-{sup 11}B plasmas increases the recirculated power cost to maintain a nonthermal feature and thereby constrains its utility to ash removal.
- OSTI ID:
- 22489831
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 11; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ASHES
BEAMS
BORON 11
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
D-T OPERATION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
HEAVY ION FUSION REACTIONS
HELIUM ASH
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LAWSON CRITERION
PLASMA
REACTIVITY
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS