The physics issues that determine inertial confinement fusion target gain and driver requirements: A tutorial
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
This paper presents a simplified, tutorial approach to determining the gains of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets, via a basic, zero-dimensional ({open_quotes}0-D{close_quotes}), energy {open_quotes}bookkeeping{close_quotes} of input (parametrized by ICF drivers{close_quote} coupling efficiencies to the target, and subsequent hydrodynamic efficiencies of implosion) versus output (thermonuclear burn efficiency and target fuel mass). Physics issues/constraints such as hydrodynamic instabilities, symmetry and implosion velocity requirements will be discussed for both the direct drive (driver impinging directly on the target) and indirect drive (x-ray implosion within a driver heated hohlraum) approaches to ICF. Supplementing the 0-D model with simple models for hohlraum wall energy loss (to predict coupling efficiencies) and a simple one-dimensional (1-D) model of the implosion as a spherical rocket (to predict hydrodynamic implosion efficiencies) allows gains to be predicted that compare well with the results of complex two-dimensional (2-D) radiation hydrodynamic simulations. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 344898
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-981127--
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 6; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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