Detailed modeling of proposed liner-on-plasma fusion experiments

Abstract

Summary form only given, as follows. Magnetized target fusion (MTF) is a potentially inexpensive approach to controlled fusion in which a preheated and magnetized target plasma is hydrodynamically compressed by an imploding liner. If electron thermal conduction losses are magnetically suppressed, relatively slow O(1 cm/microsecond) compressions, magnetically driven using inexpensive electrical pulsed power, may be practical. Target plasmas in the range 10/sup 18/ cm/sup -3/, 100 eV, 100 kG need to remain relatively free of potentially cooling contaminants during formation and compression. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) calculations including derailed effects of radiation, heat conduction, and resistive field diffusion have been used to model separate static target plasma (Russian MACO, Z-pinch, Field Reversed Configuration) and liner implosion (without plasma fill) experiments. Using several different codes, liner-on-plasma compression experiments are now being modeled in one and two dimensions to investigate important issues for the design of proposed liner-on-plasma MTF experiments. The competing processes of implosion, heating, mixing, and cooling determine the potential for such liner-on-plasma experiments to achieve fusion conditions.