Theoretical multiple beam overlap from channel transport of intense particle beams

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863181· OSTI ID:5124419

Wright, T P; Halbleib, Sr, J A

The overlap of intense particle beams transported in current-carrying plasma channels for inertial confinement fusion has been studied. Basic geometric considerations suggest an upper bound on the current density gain of N/4 due to the overlap of N uniform beams that are transported to the overlap region in channels. For ''hot'' electron beams this limit is seldom approached. For ''cold'' ions beams with radial distributions peaked on channel axes, this limit can be attained and even exceeded. From the standpoint of channel energetics, it is desirable to minimize the transverse energy of the ions in the channel which is quantified by the average ion angle theta. In order to optimize the ion overlap it is necessary to satisfy theta<2N/sup -1/2/. A spherical multi-''disk'' model of converging plasma channels is developed with the constraint that the geometrical overlap radius (where the incoming channels touch each other) remain as small as possible in order to avoid excessive beam expansion in the overlap region. Details of electron transport and escape are explained using adiabatic drift theory.

• Research Organization: Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5124419
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 23:8; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
BEAM OPTICS
BEAM TRANSPORT
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
BEAMS
COMPUTER CODES
CONFINEMENT
CURRENT DENSITY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRON BEAMS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ION BEAMS
LEPTON BEAMS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ORBITS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
TRANSPORT THEORY