Two-dimensional simulations of thermonuclear burn in ignition-scale inertial confinement fusion targets under compressed axial magnetic fields

Journal Article · Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4816813· OSTI ID:22227961

Perkins, L. J.; Logan, B. G.; Zimmerman, G. B.; Werner, C. J. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

We report for the first time on full 2-D radiation-hydrodynamic implosion simulations that explore the impact of highly compressed imposed magnetic fields on the ignition and burn of perturbed spherical implosions of ignition-scale cryogenic capsules. Using perturbations that highly convolute the cold fuel boundary of the hotspot and prevent ignition without applied fields, we impose initial axial seed fields of 20–100 T (potentially attainable using present experimental methods) that compress to greater than 4 × 10{sup 4} T (400 MG) under implosion, thereby relaxing hotspot areal densities and pressures required for ignition and propagating burn by ∼50%. The compressed field is high enough to suppress transverse electron heat conduction, and to allow alphas to couple energy into the hotspot even when highly deformed by large low-mode amplitudes. This might permit the recovery of ignition, or at least significant alpha particle heating, in submarginal capsules that would otherwise fail because of adverse hydrodynamic instabilities.

• OSTI ID: 22227961
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; 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
ALPHA PARTICLES
CAPSULES
ELECTRON BEAM TARGETS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ION BEAM TARGETS
LASER TARGETS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA PRESSURE
PLASMA SIMULATION
THERMAL CONDUCTION
THERMODYNAMICS
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS