Sirius I: prototype of a prime-power source for future 1 - 10 GJ fusion-yield experiments

Technical Report · Mon Mar 20 00:00:00 EDT 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1962490· OSTI ID:1962490

LeChien, K. R. ^[1]; Stygar, W. A. ^[1]; Anderson, M. G. ^[1]; Max, D. A. ^[2]; Anaya, R. M. ^[1]; Beatty, C. B. ^[1]; White, A. D. ^[1]; Trueblood, J. J. ^[1]; Benson, A. M. ^[3]; Beverly, R. E. ^[4]; Chaffee, R. S. ^[1]; Cortes, J. E. ^[1]; Drews, W. A. ^[3]; Hicks, R. K. ^[1]; Howland, F. A. ^[1]; Norton, D. B. ^[1]; Speer, R. D. ^[1]; Watson, J. A. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS), North Las Vegas, NV (United States)
3. General Atomics, Poway, CA (United States)
4. R. E. Beverly and Associates, Lewis Center, OH (United States)

We have designed, assembled, and tested a prototype coaxial impedance-matched Marx generator (IMG). An IMG is a pulsed-power device that achieves electromagnetic-power amplification by triggered emission of radiation. Hence an IMG is a pulsed-power analog of a laser, with an energy efficiency of 90%. We have demonstrated that the prototype performs as predicted theoretically, thereby proving the IMG concept. We propose that a system of IMGs drive a next-generation pulsed-power accelerator that delivers 90 MA to a physics load. Such a machine would attain thermonuclear-fusion yields as high as 1 – 10 GJ, and revolutionize high energy-density-physics experiments in support of the national-security mission.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1962490
• Report Number(s): LLNL-TR-846570; 1070954
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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