Progress in Fast Ignition Studies with Electrons and Protons

Journal Article · Thu Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3241199· OSTI ID:21344622

MacKinnon, A J; Chen, H; Hey, D; Key, M H; MacPhee, A G; Patel, P K; Ping, Y ^[1]; Akli, K U; Stephens, R B ^[2]; Bartal, T; Beg, F N; Chawla, S; Chen, S; Higginson, D; King, J A; Ma, T; Wei, M S ^[3]; Chen, C D ^[4]; Chowdhury, E; Link, A ^[5]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore CA 94550 (United States)
2. General Atomics, San Diego, CA 92186 (United States)
3. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 (United States)
4. Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 (United States)
5. Department of Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 (United States)

Isochoric heating of inertially confined fusion plasmas by laser driven MeV electrons or protons is an area of great topical interest in the inertial confinement fusion community, particularly with respect to the fast ignition (FI) concept for initiating burn in a fusion capsule. In order to investigate critical aspects needed for a FI point design, experiments were performed to study 1) laser-to-electrons or protons conversion issues and 2) laser-cone interactions including prepulse effects. A large suite of diagnostics was utilized to study these important parameters. Using cone--wire surrogate targets it is found that pre-pulse levels on medium scale lasers such as Titan at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory produce long scale length plasmas that strongly effect coupling of the laser to FI relevant electrons inside cones. The cone wall thickness also affects coupling to the wire. Conversion efficiency to protons has also been measured and modeled as a function of target thickness, material. Conclusions from the proton and electron source experiments will be presented. Recent advances in modeling electron transport and innovative target designs for reducing igniter energy and increasing gain curves will also be discussed. In conclusion, a program of study will be presented based on understanding the fundamental physics of the electron or proton source relevant to FI.

• OSTI ID: 21344622
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1161; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABLATION
AMPLIFICATION
BARYONS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
CONFINEMENT
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
GAIN
HADRONS
HEATING
ICF DEVICES
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
INSTABILITY
IRRADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
LEPTONS
MEV RANGE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEONS
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PROTONS
PULSED IRRADIATION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS