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Title: Magnetized Plasma Target for Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion

Abstract

Here, we identify the desired characteristics and parameters of a β>1 magnetized plasma, possibly with highly tangled, open field lines, that could be a suitable target to be compressed to fusion conditions by a spherically imploding plasma liner (Hsu et al. in IEEE Trans Plasma Sci 40:1287, 2012) formed by merging hypersonic plasma jets. This concept is known as plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF). We set requirements on the target and liner such that (a) compressional heating dominates over thermal transport in the target, and (b) magnetic amplification due to compression dominates over dissipation over the entire implosion. We also evaluate the requirements to avoid drift-instability-induced anomalous transport and current-driven anomalous resistivity in the target. Next, we describe possible approaches to create such a magnetized, β>1 plasma target. Finally, assuming such a target can be created, we evaluate the feasibility of a proof-of-concept experiment using presently achievable plasma jets to demonstrate target compressional heating at a plasma-liner kinetic energy of ≲100kJ (a few hundred times below that needed in a PJMIF reactor).

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
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  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
OSTI Identifier:
1459813
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-21935
Journal ID: ISSN 0164-0313; TRN: US1901804
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Fusion Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 38; Journal ID: ISSN 0164-0313
Publisher:
Springer
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; magneto-inertial fusion; plasma jets; plasma liners

Citation Formats

Hsu, Scott C., and Langendorf, Samuel J. Magnetized Plasma Target for Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1007/s10894-018-0168-z.
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Hsu, Scott C., & Langendorf, Samuel J. Magnetized Plasma Target for Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-018-0168-z
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Hsu, Scott C., and Langendorf, Samuel J. Mon . "Magnetized Plasma Target for Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-018-0168-z. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1459813.
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@article{osti_1459813,
title = {Magnetized Plasma Target for Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion},
author = {Hsu, Scott C. and Langendorf, Samuel J.},
abstractNote = {Here, we identify the desired characteristics and parameters of a β>1 magnetized plasma, possibly with highly tangled, open field lines, that could be a suitable target to be compressed to fusion conditions by a spherically imploding plasma liner (Hsu et al. in IEEE Trans Plasma Sci 40:1287, 2012) formed by merging hypersonic plasma jets. This concept is known as plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF). We set requirements on the target and liner such that (a) compressional heating dominates over thermal transport in the target, and (b) magnetic amplification due to compression dominates over dissipation over the entire implosion. We also evaluate the requirements to avoid drift-instability-induced anomalous transport and current-driven anomalous resistivity in the target. Next, we describe possible approaches to create such a magnetized, β>1 plasma target. Finally, assuming such a target can be created, we evaluate the feasibility of a proof-of-concept experiment using presently achievable plasma jets to demonstrate target compressional heating at a plasma-liner kinetic energy of ≲100kJ (a few hundred times below that needed in a PJMIF reactor).},
doi = {10.1007/s10894-018-0168-z},
journal = {Journal of Fusion Energy},
number = ,
volume = 38,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-018-0168-z
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Cited by: 10 works
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Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1 Fig. 1: Illustration adapted from of a hypothetical spherical plasma target with highly tangled, open magnetic field lines with correlation length $ℓ$ ≪ radius $r$.
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Retrospective of the ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Program
    journal, October 2019

    Simulation study of the influence of experimental variations on the structure and quality of plasma liners
    journal, March 2019

    • Shih, Wen; Samulyak, Roman; Hsu, Scott C.
    • Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 3
    • DOI: 10.1063/1.5067395

    Neutronics Calculations for a Hypothetical Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial-Fusion Reactor
    journal, May 2019

    Retrospective of the ARPA-E ALPHA fusion program
    text, January 2019

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      Figures / Tables found in this record:

      Fig. 1 (p. 3)figure
      Fig. 2 (p. 4)figure
      Table 1 (p. 4)table
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      Table 6 (p. 15)table
      Fig. 20 (p. 16)figure
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