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Study of an isolated, laser-produced deuterium plasma in a magnetic field

Thesis/Dissertation ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4269509· OSTI ID:4269509
 [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Apparatus is described which produces 50 u deuterium pellets. The pellets are sliced from a continuously spun solid deuterium thread at a rate of up to 10 pellets/sec. The methods of thread production, slicing, and pellet collimation are discussed. Techniques for detection and irradiation, on one side, of these freely falling pellets with a fast rising ruby laser pulse is also described. It is found that the freely expanding plasma has an asymptotic density distribution which is shell like. The observed burn time, expansion velocity, and asymptotic density distribution are found to be in good agreement wHh a simple model of the burning and acceleration of the pellets. The total number of ions produced is ~ 5 x 1015 consistent with complete ionization of the SO u pellets. The plasma is given on the order of 100 eV per particle when the laser energy flux is 1012 watts/cm2.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
NSA Number:
NSA-31-016229
OSTI ID:
4269509
Report Number(s):
LBL--3097
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English