Z -discharge transport of intense ion beams for inertial confinement fusion

Journal Article · Fri Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Applied Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.350239· OSTI ID:5002492

Ottinger, P F; Rose, D; Mosher, D; Neri, J M ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC (USA)

Ion inertial confinement fusion requires beam transport over distances of a few meters for isolation of the diode hardware from the target explosion and for power compression by time-of-flight bunching. This paper evaluates light ion beam transport in a wall-stabilized {ital z}-discharge channel, where the discharge azimuthal magnetic field radially confines the ion beam. The ion beam is focused onto the entrance aperture of the transport channel by shaping the diode to achieve beam convergence in a field-free drift region separating the diode from the transport section. Ion orbits are studied to determine the injection efficiency (i.e., the fraction of the beam emitted from the diode which is transported) under various conditions. Ions that are focused onto the channel entrance at too large of an angle for confinement hit the wall and are lost. For a multimodular scheme (10--30 beams), individual transport channels are packed around the target with the exit apertures at some standoff distance from it. The fraction of the beam that is lost in this field-free standoff region is also evaluated under various conditions. The standoff efficiency is then combined with the injection efficiency to give the dependence of the total transport efficiency {eta}{sub {ital t}} on diode, focusing, transport and standoff parameters. It is found that {eta}{sub {ital t}} can be in the range of 75%--100% for parameter values that appear to be achievable.

• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5002492
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States) Vol. 70:10; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
AZIMUTH
BEAM INJECTION
BEAM TRANSPORT
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONFINEMENT
DIODE TUBES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON TUBES
EXPLOSIONS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ION BEAM INJECTION
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
STABILIZATION
TARGETS
THERMIONIC DIODES
THERMIONIC TUBES
TRAJECTORIES