Gas-breakdown effects associated with the self-pinched transport of intense light-ion beams

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:323595

Ottinger, P F ^[1]; Rose, D V ^[2]; Olson, C L ^[3]; Welch, D R ^[4]; Oliver, B V

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1. Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (United States). Plasma Physics Div.
2. JAYCOR, Vienna, VA (United States)
3. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
4. Mission Research Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Self-pinched transport (SPT) of intense light-ion beams is being considered for delivering energy to a high-gain, high-yield inertial confinement fusion target. Proton beam SPT experiments are underway on the Gamble II generators at the Naval Research Laboratory. The physics of SPT in low-pressure gas is being analyzed with analytic theory and numerical simulations. A 1-D theory estimates the net current fraction necessary for stable transport as a function of gas density for a given beam profile. SPT simulations using the 3-D hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) code IPROP determine the beam profile. Important to both theory and simulations is the inclusion of gas-breakdown physics. A comparison between the theory and the self-consistent simulations using IPROP is made. Additional SPT simulations have been carried out using the 2-D hybrid PIC code SOLENZ which assumes a pre-ionized plasma. This simulation model enables the investigation of long time scale beam propagation issues. A comparison between IPROP and SOLENZ will be presented. SOLENZ simulations with the Gamble I beam parameters demonstrate SPT but point to the need to study the injection conditions to improve beam confinement. Simulations examining beam-to-wall distance and injection conditions will be presented.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 323595
• Report Number(s): CONF-970559--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM PROFILES
BEAM TRANSPORT
BREAKDOWN
COMPUTER CODES
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ION BEAM FUSION REACTORS
ION BEAM TARGETS
ION BEAMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS