Abstract
A mixture of deuterium (D) and tritium (T) is the most likely fuel for laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) reactors and hence DD and DT are the fusion reactions that will fire these reactors in the future. Neutrons produced from the two reactions will escape from the burning plasma, in the reactor core, and they are the only products possible to be measured directly. DT/DD neutron ratio is crucial for evaluation of T/D fuel ratio, burn control, tritium cycle and alpha particle self-heating power. To measure this ratio experimentally, the neutron spectra of DD and DT reactions have to be measured separately and simultaneously under high neutron counting with sufficient statistics (typically within 10% error) in a very short time and these issues are mutually contradicted. That is why it is not plausible to measure this high priority ratio for reactor performance accurately. Precise calculations of the DT/DD neutron ratio are needed. Here, we introduce such calculations using a three dimensional (3-D) Monte Carlo code at energies up to 40 MeV (the predicted maximum ion acceleration energy with the available laser systems). In addition, the fusion power ratio of DD and DT reactions is calculated for the same energy range. The study indicates that for a mixture of 50% deuterium and 50% triton, with taking into account the reactions D(d,n)3He and T(d,n)4He, the optimum energy value for achieving the most efficient laser-driven ICF is 0.08 MeV.
Highlights
Nuclear fusion is one of the few options that provide a sustainable and safe energy source for future
For the best performance of the laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) reactors, it is essential to carry out similar studies to measure the DT/DD neutron ratio
The above formula is introduced for the first time and it is used to compare the fusion power of DD and DT fusion reactions ( Pf (DT /DD) and Pf (DD/DT ) ) in high energy–density plasma within a broad energy range (0.01 ≤ Ed ≤ 40 MeV)
Summary
Nuclear fusion is one of the few options that provide a sustainable and safe energy source for future. For the best performance of the laser-driven ICF reactors, it is essential to carry out similar studies to measure the DT/DD neutron ratio. This ratio is crucial for controlling the isotope ratio of the fuel to be injected into the reactor. Precise calculations of the values and the behavior of DT/DD neutron yield ratio are needed We introduce such calculations for ICF using 3-D Monte Carlo code at energies up to 40 MeV.
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