Theory of alpha heating in inertial fusion: Alpha-heating metrics and the onset of the burning-plasma regime

Christopherson, A. R.; Betti, R.; Howard, J.; Woo, K. M.; Bose, A.; Campbell, E. M.; Gopalaswamy, V.

doi:10.1063/1.5030337

Title: Theory of alpha heating in inertial fusion: Alpha-heating metrics and the onset of the burning-plasma regime

Journal Article · 18 July 2018 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5030337 · OSTI ID:1463091

Christopherson, A. R. ^[1]; Betti, R. ^[2];

^[2]; Woo, K. M. ^[2];

^[2];

^[2]

Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Fusion Science Center and Laboratory for Laser Energetics; Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Fusion Science Center and Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Here, a detailed and comprehensive 1-dimensional theory of alpha-heating metrics is developed to determine the onset of burning plasma regimes in inertial fusion implosions. The analysis uses an analytic model of the deceleration, stagnation, and burn phases of inertial confinement fusion implosions combined with the results from a database of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations. The onset of the burning-plasma regime occurs when the alpha-heating rate in the hot spot exceeds the compression power input and is represented by the parameter Q_α = 1/2 α energy/PdV work. A second burning plasma regime is also identified, where the alpha-heating rate exceeds the compression input to the entire stagnated plasma, including the hot spot and confining shell, and is represented by Q^tot_α. It is shown that progress towards the burning-plasma regime is correlated with the yield enhancement caused by alpha-heating but is more accurately related to the fractional alpha energy f_α = 1/2 α energy/hot-spot energy. In the analysis presented here, we develop a method to infer these intermediate metrics from experiments and show that the alpha power produced in National Ignition Facility High-Foot implosions is approximately 50% of the external input power delivered to the hot spot and 25% of the total external power (from compression) delivered to the stagnated core.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0001944

OSTI ID:: 1463091

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 25; ISSN 1070-664X

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

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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