Burn propagation in magnetized high-yield inertial fusion

O'Neill, Sam T.; Appelbe, B. D.; Crilly, A. J.; Walsh, C. A.; Strozzi, D. J.; Moody, J. D.; Chittenden, J. P.

doi:10.1063/5.0242215

Burn propagation in magnetized high-yield inertial fusion

Journal Article · Fri Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 2025 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0242215· OSTI ID:2513505

^[1]; ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[2]

Imperial College, London (United Kingdom); University of York (United Kingdom)
Imperial College, London (United Kingdom)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Recent experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have demonstrated ignition for the first time in an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiment, a major milestone allowing the possibility of high energy gain through burn propagation. Use of external magnetic fields, applied primarily to reduce thermal losses, could increase hotspot temperature and ease requirements for ignition, opening up the capsule design space for high energy gain. However, this same restriction of thermal transport has the potential to inhibit burn propagation, which is vital in the attainment of high gain. In this work, radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations carried out using the code Chimera are used to investigate the effect of a pre-imposed magnetic field on ignition and burn propagation. This paper studies the propagation of burn using both an idealized planar model and in fully integrated 2D MHD simulations of an igniting NIF capsule. A study of magnetized burn propagation in the idealized planar model identifies three regimes of magnetized burn propagation: (1) thermal conduction driven; (2) alpha transport driven; and (3) fully suppressed burn. Simulations of NIF shot N210808 with an applied 40 T axial field show clear indication of burn suppression perpendicular to field lines, with rapid burn observed along field lines. Implosion shape is altered by the field, and anisotropic conduction causes significant modification to the rate of ablation during stagnation. These results highlight the fundamental changes to implosion dynamics in high-yield magnetized ICF and motivate further study to better optimize future magnetized target designs for high gain.

View Journal Article

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 2513505

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2513973

Report Number(s):: LLNL--JRNL-868907; 1104387

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 32; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (41)

Time-dependent radiative transfer with automatic flux limiting Mihalas, Dimitri; Weaver, Robert Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, Vol. 28, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4073(82)90024-3	journal	September 1982
Diffusion, P1, and other approximate forms of radiation transport Olson, Gordon L.; Auer, Lawrence H.; Hall, Michael L. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, Vol. 64, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4073(99)00150-8	journal	March 2000
The equation of state package FEOS for high energy density matter Faik, Steffen; Tauschwitz, Anna; Iosilevskiy, Igor Computer Physics Communications, Vol. 227 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2018.01.008	journal	June 2018
SpK: A fast atomic and microphysics code for the high-energy-density regime Crilly, A. J.; Niasse, N. P. L.; Fraser, A. R. High Energy Density Physics, Vol. 48 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hedp.2023.101053	journal	September 2023
A Monte-Carlo method for coulomb collisions in hybrid plasma models Sherlock, M. Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 227, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcp.2007.11.037	journal	February 2008
Experimental discrimination of ion stopping models near the Bragg peak in highly ionized matter Cayzac, W.; Frank, A.; Ortner, A. Nature Communications, Vol. 8, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15693	journal	June 2017
Born random phase approximation for ion stopping in an arbitrarily degenerate electron fluid Maynard, G.; Deutsch, C. Journal de Physique, Vol. 46, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1051/jphys:019850046070111300	journal	January 1985
Three-dimensional HYDRA simulations of National Ignition Facility targets Marinak, M. M.; Kerbel, G. D.; Gentile, N. A. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 8, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1356740	journal	May 2001
Compressing magnetic fields with high-energy lasers Knauer, J. P.; Gotchev, O. V.; Chang, P. Y. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3416557	journal	May 2010
Hot-spot mix in ignition-scale implosions on the NIF Regan, S. P.; Epstein, R.; Hammel, B. A. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 19, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3694057	journal	May 2012
Two-dimensional simulations of thermonuclear burn in ignition-scale inertial confinement fusion targets under compressed axial magnetic fields Perkins, L. J.; Logan, B. G.; Zimmerman, G. B. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4816813	journal	July 2013
Signatures of asymmetry in neutron spectra and images predicted by three-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics simulations of indirect drive implosions Chittenden, J. P.; Appelbe, B. D.; Manke, F. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 23, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4949523	journal	May 2016
The potential of imposed magnetic fields for enhancing ignition probability and fusion energy yield in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion Perkins, L. J.; Ho, D. D. -M; Logan, B. G. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 24, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4985150	journal	June 2017
Diagnostic signatures of performance degrading perturbations in inertial confinement fusion implosions McGlinchey, K.; Appelbe, B. D.; Crilly, A. J. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 25, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5064504	journal	December 2018
Perturbation modifications by pre-magnetisation of inertial confinement fusion implosions Walsh, C. A.; McGlinchey, K.; Tong, J. K. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5085498	journal	February 2019
Extended-magnetohydrodynamics in under-dense plasmas Walsh, C. A.; Chittenden, J. P.; Hill, D. W. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 27, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5124144	journal	February 2020
Monte Carlo methods in ICF Zimmerman, George B. LASER INTERACTION AND RELATED PLASMA PHENOMENA, The 13th international conference on laser interactions and related plasma phenomena https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53528	conference	January 1997
Plasma transport coefficients in a magnetic field by direct numerical solution of the Fokker–Planck equation Epperlein, E. M.; Haines, M. G. Physics of Fluids, Vol. 29, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.865901	journal	January 1986
Development of the indirect‐drive approach to inertial confinement fusion and the target physics basis for ignition and gain Lindl, John Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 2, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871025	journal	November 1995
Transient magnetic field diffusion considerations relevant to magnetically assisted indirect drive inertial confinement fusion Moody, J. D.; Johnson, A.; Javedani, J. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 27, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0022722	journal	November 2020
Magnetic field transport in propagating thermonuclear burn Appelbe, B.; Velikovich, A. L.; Sherlock, M. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 28, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0040161	journal	March 2021
Magnetized ICF implosions: Scaling of temperature and yield enhancement Walsh, C. A.; O'Neill, S.; Chittenden, J. P. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 29, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0081915	journal	April 2022
Performance scaling with an applied magnetic field in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions Sio, H.; Moody, J. D.; Pollock, B. B. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 30, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0150441	journal	July 2023
Design and modeling of indirectly driven magnetized implosions on the NIF Strozzi, D. J.; Sio, H.; Zimmerman, G. B. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 31, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0214674	journal	September 2024
The physics of burn in magnetized deuterium-tritium plasmas: spherical geometry Jones, R. D.; Mead, W. C. Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 26, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/26/2/001	journal	February 1986
Plasma stopping power including subleading order Brown, Lowell S.; Preston, Dean L.; Singleton, Robert L. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, Vol. 39, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4470/39/17/S54	journal	April 2006
Burn regimes in the hydrodynamic scaling of perturbed inertial confinement fusion hotspots Tong, J. K.; McGlinchey, K.; Appelbe, B. D. Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 59, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ab22d4	journal	June 2019
An overview of magneto-inertial fusion on the Z machine at Sandia National Laboratories Yager-Elorriaga, D. A.; Gomez, M. R.; Ruiz, D. E. Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 62, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ac2dbe	journal	February 2022
Magnetized ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability in three dimensions Walsh, C. A. Physical Review E, Vol. 105, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.105.025206	journal	February 2022
Design of an inertial fusion experiment exceeding the Lawson criterion for ignition Kritcher, A. L.; Zylstra, A. B.; Callahan, D. A. Physical Review E, Vol. 106, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.106.025201	journal	August 2022
Diagnosing the origin and impact of low-mode asymmetries in ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility Casey, D.; MacGowan, B.; Hurricane, O. Physical Review E, Vol. 108, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.108.L053203	journal	November 2023
Thermonuclear ignition and the onset of propagating burn in inertial fusion implosions Christopherson, A. R.; Betti, R.; Lindl, J. D. Physical Review E, Vol. 99, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.99.021201	journal	February 2019
Fusion Yield Enhancement in Magnetized Laser-Driven Implosions Chang, P. Y.; Fiksel, G.; Hohenberger, M. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 107, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.035006	journal	July 2011
High-Gain Magnetized Inertial Fusion Slutz, Stephen A.; Vesey, Roger A. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.025003	journal	January 2012
Measurements of Ion Stopping Around the Bragg Peak in High-Energy-Density Plasmas Frenje, J. A.; Grabowski, P. E.; Li, C. K. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 115, Issue 20 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.205001	journal	November 2015
Effect of Strongly Magnetized Electrons and Ions on Heat Flow and Symmetry of Inertial Fusion Implosions Bose, A.; Peebles, J.; Walsh, C. A. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 128, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.195002	journal	May 2022
Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment Abu-Shawareb, H.; Acree, R.; Adams, P. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 129, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001	journal	August 2022
Increased Ion Temperature and Neutron Yield Observed in Magnetized Indirectly Driven D2 -Filled Capsule Implosions on the National Ignition Facility Moody, J. D.; Pollock, B. B.; Sio, H. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 129, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.195002	journal	November 2022
Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment Abu-Shawareb, H.; Acree, R.; Adams, P. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 132, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.065102	journal	February 2024
Hohlraum Reheating from Burning NIF Implosions Rubery, M. S.; Rosen, M. D.; Aybar, N. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 132, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.065104	journal	February 2024
The National Ignition Facility: Laser Performance and First Experiments Moses, Edward I.; Wuest, Craig R. Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.13182/FST47-314	journal	April 2005

Similar Records

The potential of imposed magnetic fields for enhancing ignition probability and fusion energy yield in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion

Journal Article · Tue Jun 20 20:00:00 EDT 2017 · Physics of Plasmas · OSTI ID:1364665

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 · OSTI ID:22227961

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Physics - Plasma physics

Burn propagation in magnetized high-yield inertial fusion

Citation Formats

References (41)

Similar Records

Related Subjects