Physics of an ablating pellet in a thermonuclear plasma. Technical report of work performed July 1, 1976 through December 31, 1976
Injection at high speeds of tiny pellets of hydrogen ice into a reactor plasma is a possible means of refueling a fusion reactor during its burn duration. In this work the atomic physics in the ablation cloud that surrounds the pellet is examined. The means by which the kinetic energy of the particles of the hot plasma is deposited in the ablation cloud and the energy transport within the cloud is examined. Most of the energy deposited comes from hot electrons, and secondary and tertiary electrons play an important role in the conversion of incident energy to radiation, heat, expansion energy, and potential energies of ionization, dissociation, and vaporization. The atomic physics developed in this report will be incorporated into a computer model in later work in order to better assess the pellet lifetime and trajectory in a thermonuclear plasma. Alternative fueling concepts, includig pellet shaping and self-propelled pellets, are examined.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5968661
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A-14477; TRN: 79-019729
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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