A comprehensive alpha-heating model for inertial confinement fusion

Christopherson, A. R.; Betti, R.; Bose, A.; Howard, J.; Woo, K. M.; Campbell, E. M.; Sanz, J.; Spears, B. K.

doi:10.1063/1.4991405

Title: A comprehensive alpha-heating model for inertial confinement fusion

Journal Article · 08 January 2018 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4991405 · OSTI ID:1427517

Christopherson, A. R. ^[1]; Betti, R. ^[1];

^[1];

^[1]; Woo, K. M. ^[1];

^[1]; Sanz, J. ^[2]; Spears, B. K. ^[3]

Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Fusion Science Center. Lab. for Laser Energetics
Technical Univ. of Madrid (Spain)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

In this paper, a comprehensive model is developed to study alpha-heating in inertially confined plasmas. It describes the time evolution of a central low-density hot spot confined by a compressible shell, heated by fusion alphas, and cooled by radiation and thermal losses. The model includes the deceleration, stagnation, and burn phases of inertial confinement fusion implosions, and is valid for sub-ignited targets with ≤10× amplification of the fusion yield from alpha-heating. The results of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations are used to derive realistic initial conditions and dimensionless parameters for the model. It is found that most of the alpha energy (~90%) produced before bang time is deposited within the hot spot mass, while a small fraction (~10%) drives mass ablation off the inner shell surface and its energy is recycled back into the hot spot. Of the bremsstrahlung radiation emission, ~40% is deposited in the hot spot, ~40% is recycled back in the hot spot by ablation off the shell, and ~20% leaves the hot spot. We show here that the hot spot, shocked shell, and outer shell trajectories from this analytical model are in good agreement with simulations. Finally, a detailed discussion of the effect of alpha-heating on the hydrodynamics is also presented.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0001944; FC02-04ER54789

OSTI ID:: 1427517

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1416080

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 25, Issue 1; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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