Study of laser-plasma heating using optimal control theory
The optimal laser heating of the plasma ions is studied using optimal control theory. The cases of constant density plasmas and plasmas confined in strong solenoidal magnetic fields (in which the work done by the expansion of the plasma against the magnetic field is neglected) are considered. In both cases, bremsstrahlung radiation losses are included in the mathematical model. Optimal strategies that minimize the total laser energy spent, the heating time or a linear combination of the two (with different weighting coefficients), are obtained. The optimal laser intensity, associated with the instantaneous state of the plasma, e.g., electron and ion temperatures, is found to depend on the relative magnitude of the weighting coefficients, and the magnitude of the external magnetic field. An arbitrary initial stage of 10 eV for both electrons and ions, and a final ion temperature of 5 keV were chosen to illustrate the application of the theory. In this case, savings in the energy spent of nearly 75%, compared with the energy necessary when using a constant laser pulse, are obtained when minimum energy trajectories are implemented.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5344398
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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