Numerical and theoretical investigations of Z-pinch plasma channels for light-ion-beam inertial-confinement fusion
Z-pinch plasma channels are investigated as beam-transport channels for light-ion-beam inertial-confinement fusion. The channels are intended to provide a high-efficiency propagation path for the ion beams as they travel a distance of several meters from the extractor diodes to the target. The channels must satisfy several conditions to be useful as beam-transport channels: their azimuthal magnetic field must be strong enough to confine the intense beams to small radius, and the mass density in the channel must be great enough to provide a high degree of current neutralization for the beams. This research uses numerical simulations and theoretical models to investigate how the radial evolution of the z-pinch plasma channel can be controlled to satisfy these conditions. A theoretical model of the injection of an ion beam into the end of a channel is used to derive a condition that the channel must meet to confine a given amount of ion beam power to a certain radius. This condition states that the peak magnetic field times the cube of the channel's radius must exceed a certain value that depends on the ion beam properties to be able to confine a given amount of ion beam power. Numerical investigations of the blast-wave expansion of the channel were used to develop a new blast-wave. This model predicts that by properly changing the initial mass density and the peak discharge current, channels with identical hydrodynamic behaviors can be created.
- Research Organization:
- Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7043578
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
PINCH DEVICES
BEAM TRANSPORT
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
ION BEAMS
LIGHT IONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
SIMULATION
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONFINEMENT
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IONS
MECHANICS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology