Low Mass Transmission Lines for Z-Pinch Driven Inertial Fusion

Technical Report · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/792877· OSTI ID:792877

SLUTZ, STEPHEN A ^[1]; OLSON, CRAIG L; PETERSON, PER

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1. Sandia National Laboratories

Recyclable transmission lines (RTL) are studied as a means of repetitively driving z pinches. The lowest reprocessing costs should be obtained by minimizing the mass of the RTL. Low mass transmission lines (LMTL) could also help reduce the cost of a single shot facility such as the proposed X-1 accelerator and make z-pinch driven space propulsion feasible. We present calculations to determine the minimum LMTL electrode mass to provide sufficient inertia against the magnetic pressure produced by the large currents needed to drive the z pinches. The results indicate an electrode thickness which is much smaller than the resistive skin depth. We have performed experiments to determine if such thin electrodes can efficiently carry the required current. The tests were performed with various thickness of materials. The results indicate that LMTLs should efficiently carry the large z-pinch currents needed for inertial fusion. We also use our results to estimate of the performance of pulsed power driven pulsed nuclear rockets.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (US); Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 792877
• Report Number(s): SAND2002-0040
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DESIGN
ELECTRODES
LINEAR Z PINCH DEVICES
PERFORMANCE
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
SPACE VEHICLES