Energy deposition of MeV electrons in compressed targets of fast-ignition inertial confinement fusion

Journal Article · Mon May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2178780· OSTI ID:20783162

Li, C K; Petrasso, R D ^[1]

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1. Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

Energy deposition of MeV electrons in dense plasmas, important for fast ignition in inertial confinement fusion, is modeled analytically. It is shown that classical stopping and scattering dominate electron transport and energy deposition when the electrons reach the dense plasmas in the cores of compressed targets, while 'anomalous' stopping associated with self-generated fields and micro-instabilities (suggested by previous simulations) might initially play an important role in the lower-density plasmas outside the dense core. For MeV electrons in precompressed deuterium-tritium fast-ignition targets, the initial penetration results in approximately uniform energy deposition but the latter stages of penetration involve mutual couplings of energy loss, straggling, and blooming that lead to enhanced, nonuniform energy deposition. This model can be used for quantitatively assessing ignition requirements for fast ignition.

• OSTI ID: 20783162
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 13, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2178780; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEPOSITION
DEUTERIUM
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRONS
ICF DEVICES
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
MEV RANGE
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SCATTERING
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRITIUM