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Absence of molecular deuterium dissociation during room-temperature permeation into polystyrene ICF target shells

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6094311· OSTI ID:6094311
; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Syracuse Univ., NY (USA). Dept. of Physics
  2. Rochester Univ., NY (USA). Lab. for Laser Energetics

Polystyrene microshells filled with deuterium and tritium gas are important target shells for inertially confined fusion (ICF) and are particularly promising for target 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 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 of D{sub 2} upon room temperature permeation through an approximately 8 um wall of polystyrene, clearing the way for use of polystyrene target shells for ICF fusion experiments with spin-polarized hydrogens fuels. 19 refs., 1 fig.

Research Organization:
Syracuse Univ., NY (USA). Dept. of Physics; Rochester Univ., NY (USA). Lab. for Laser Energetics
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; ESEERC; NYSERDA; ONTHYD; ROCHESU; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA); Empire State Electric Energy Research Corp., New York, NY (USA); New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Albany, NY (USA); Ontario Hydro, Toronto, ON (Canada); Rochester Univ., NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FG03-91ER18862; FG03-90SF18437; FC03-85DP40200
OSTI ID:
6094311
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/18862-1; ON: DE91007120
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English