Can inertial electrostatic confinement work beyond the ion--ion collisional time scale?
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
Inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) systems are predicated on a nonequilibrium ion distribution function. Coulomb collisions between ions cause this distribution to relax to a Maxwellian on the ion--ion collisional time scale. The power required to prevent this relaxation and maintain the IEC configuration for times beyond the ion--ion collisional time scale is shown to be greater than the fusion power produced. It is concluded that IEC systems show little promise as a basis for the development of commercial electric power plants. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.
- OSTI ID:
- 122987
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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