Abstract
Abstract Nowadays, inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research related to noncontact positioning and transport of free-standing cryogenic targets is playing an increasingly important role in this field. The operational principle behind these technologies is the magnetic acceleration of the levitating target carrier (or sabot) made from Type-II, high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs). The physics of interaction among levitation, guidance and propulsion systems is based on a quantum levitation of high-pinning HTSCs in the mutually normal magnetic fields. This paper discusses current target delivery strategies and future perspectives to create different permanent magnet guideway (PMG) systems for ICF target transport with levitation. In particular, several PMG building options for optimizing both suspension and levitation of ICF targets using an HTSC-sabot will be analyzed. Credible solutions have been demonstrated for both linear and round PMGs, including the ones with a cyclotron acceleration process to realize high-running velocities of the HTSC-sabot for a limited magnetic track. Focusing on physics, we describe in detail the main aspects of the PMG building and the results obtained from computations and proof of principle experiments. High-pinning HTSC magnetic levitation promises a stable and self-controlled levitation to accelerate the ICF targets placed in the HTSC-sabots up to the required injection velocities of 200 m/s and beyond.
Highlights
In the inertial fusion energy (ICF) research, the Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI) is focused on the noncontact positioning and transport of the free-standing cryogenic targets at the focus of a powerful laser facility
This paper presents the conception, simulation and experimental evaluation of the noncontact high-temperature superconductors (HTSC)-sabot acceleration in different permanent magnet guideway (PMG)-systems
We have found that the parameters of the permanent magnets composing the PMG-system are very important for their performance in terms of levitation force and target trajectory control
Summary
A cost-effective approach for ICF target supply was proposed at the LPI (see Fig. 2) It is based on using free-standing and line-moving targets [5−8] to develop target fabrication and delivery technologies with an emphasis on repetition systems that is referred as FST approach. The work carried out at LPI [9−12] has focused on realizing a noncontact positioning and transport of the free-standing cryogenic targets based on the quantum levitation effect of HTSCs in the magnetic fields. The magnetic field of the PMG-system causes levitation and guidance forces due to the pinning of flux lines in the HTSCs [15−17] providing a large lateral stability of the HTSCsabot trajectory Such noncontact approach allows extended maintenance-free operation with high efficiency because it needs only energy for cooling and propulsion. The results obtained from computations and POP experiments are discussed
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