NRL light ion beam research for inertial confinement fusion

Technical Report · Thu Nov 20 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7050667· OSTI ID:7050667

Cooperstein, G.; Goldstein, S. A.; Mosher, D.

There is presently great interest in using light ion beams to drive thermonuclear pellets. Terrawatt-level ion beams have been efficiently produced using conventional pulsed power generators at Sandia Laboratory with magnetically-insulated ion diodes and at the Naval Research Laboratory with pinch-reflex ion diodes. Both laboratories have recently focused ion beams to pellet dimensions. This paper reviews recent advances made at NRL in the area of ion production with pinch-reflex diodes, and in the areas of beam focusing and transport. In addition, modular generator and beam requirements for pellet ignition systems are reviewed and compared with the latest experimental results. These results include the following: (1) production of >100 kJ proton and deuteron beams with peak ion powers approaching 2 TW on the PITHON generator in collaboration with Physics International Co., (2) focusing of 0.5 TW deuteron beams produced on the NRL Gamble II generator to current densities of about 300 kA/cm/sup 2/, and (3) efficient transport of 100 kA level ion beams over 1 meter distances using Z-discharge plasma channels.

• Research Organization: Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI01-77DP40042
• OSTI ID: 7050667
• Report Number(s): NRL-MR-4387
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
BEAM FOCUSING MAGNETS
BEAM TRANSPORT
BEAMS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETS
EQUIPMENT
I-BEAM TYPE REACTORS
ION BEAM TARGETS
ION BEAMS
ION SOURCES
MAGNETS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS