The staged z-pinch as a potential high gain fusion energy source: An independent review, a negative conclusion
Abstract
Previously published calculations predict that the “staged z-pinch” (SZP) can achieve 400 MJ of fusion yield on a Z-class machine. The SZP is touted to need no external preheat mechanism and no external pre-magnetization method. Instead, it is claimed that the imploding liner can adequately “shock preheat” the fuel and magnetic field diffusion through the liner can adequately magnetize the fuel. Here in this paper, we analyze a number of published SZP calculations and demonstrate that the calculations have major errors—the computer code used to do the calculations does not appear to be accurately solving the physical model it is intended to solve. A variety of independent analyses lead to this conclusion. This conclusion is confirmed by detailed one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) calculations conducted on different computer codes using a variety of proposed SZP operating parameters. Although using parameters similar or identical to the published calculations, our MHD calculations do not reach fusion conditions; there is no conceivable modification of the parameters that would lead to high-gain fusion conditions using these other codes. Our analyses and a review of the magnetized target parameter space leads to further conclusion that the SZP should not be considered to be a potential high-gain fusionmore »
- Authors:
-
[2];
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1483981
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1478546
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2018-12657J
Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X; 670032
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physics of Plasmas
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 25; Journal Issue: 10; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Citation Formats
Lindemuth, Irvin R., Weis, Matthew R., and Atchison, Walter L. The staged z-pinch as a potential high gain fusion energy source: An independent review, a negative conclusion. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1063/1.5045123.
Lindemuth, Irvin R., Weis, Matthew R., & Atchison, Walter L. The staged z-pinch as a potential high gain fusion energy source: An independent review, a negative conclusion. United States. doi:10.1063/1.5045123.
Lindemuth, Irvin R., Weis, Matthew R., and Atchison, Walter L. Mon .
"The staged z-pinch as a potential high gain fusion energy source: An independent review, a negative conclusion". United States. doi:10.1063/1.5045123. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1483981.
@article{osti_1483981,
title = {The staged z-pinch as a potential high gain fusion energy source: An independent review, a negative conclusion},
author = {Lindemuth, Irvin R. and Weis, Matthew R. and Atchison, Walter L.},
abstractNote = {Previously published calculations predict that the “staged z-pinch” (SZP) can achieve 400 MJ of fusion yield on a Z-class machine. The SZP is touted to need no external preheat mechanism and no external pre-magnetization method. Instead, it is claimed that the imploding liner can adequately “shock preheat” the fuel and magnetic field diffusion through the liner can adequately magnetize the fuel. Here in this paper, we analyze a number of published SZP calculations and demonstrate that the calculations have major errors—the computer code used to do the calculations does not appear to be accurately solving the physical model it is intended to solve. A variety of independent analyses lead to this conclusion. This conclusion is confirmed by detailed one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) calculations conducted on different computer codes using a variety of proposed SZP operating parameters. Although using parameters similar or identical to the published calculations, our MHD calculations do not reach fusion conditions; there is no conceivable modification of the parameters that would lead to high-gain fusion conditions using these other codes. Our analyses and a review of the magnetized target parameter space leads to further conclusion that the SZP should not be considered to be a potential high-gain fusion source.},
doi = {10.1063/1.5045123},
journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
number = 10,
volume = 25,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {10}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Retrospective of the ARPA-E ALPHA Fusion Program
journal, October 2019
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