Absence of molecular deuterium dissociation during room-temperature permeation into polystyrene inertially confined fusion target shells

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.577186· OSTI ID:5020215

Honig, A; Alexander, N; Fan, Q ^[1]; Gram, R Q; Kim, H ^[2]

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1. Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York (USA)
2. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York (USA)

Polystyrene microshells filled with deuterium and tritium gas are important target shells for inertially confined fusion (ICF) and are particularly promising for targets containing spin--polarized hydrogens fuels. A currently active approach to the latter uses polarized D in HD, in a method which requires preservation of the high purity of the initially prepared HD (very low specified H{sub 2} and D{sub 2} concentrations). This would not be possible if dissociation should occur during permeation into the target shells. We have thus tested polystyrene shells using a novel method which employs very pure ortho-D{sub 2} as the test gas. An upper limit of 6{times}10{sup {minus}4} was deduced for the dissociation probability of D{sub 2} upon room temperature permeation through an approximately 8 {mu}m wall of polystyrene, clearing the way for use of polystyrene target shells for ICF fusion experiments with spin--polarized hydrogen--isotope fuels.

• OSTI ID: 5020215
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (United States) Vol. 9:6; ISSN JVTAD; ISSN 0734-2101
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
CONFINEMENT
DEUTERIUM
DIFFUSION
DISSOCIATION
FUELS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERMEABILITY
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYSTYRENE
POLYVINYLS
SHELLS
STABLE ISOTOPES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS