DT Target Research Articles

Vacuum arc ion source for heavy ion fusion

Heavy ion fusion is one approach to the problem of controlled thermonuclear power production, in which a small DT target is bombarded by an intense flux of heavy ions and compressed to fusion temperatures. There is a need in present HIF research and development for a reliable ion source for the production of heavy ion beams with low emittance, low beam noise, ion charge states Q=1+ to 3+, beam current ∼0.5 A, pulse width ∼5–20 μs, and repetition rate ∼10 pulses per second. We have explored the suitability of a vacuum arc ion source for this application. Energetic, high current, gadolinium ion beams were produced with parameters as required or close to those required. The performance parameters can all be improved yet further in an optimized ion source design. Here we describe the ion source configuration used, the experiments conducted, and the results obtained. We conclude that a vacuum arc based metal ion source of this kind could be an excellent candidate for heavy ion fusion research application.

Spin-polarized fuel in ICF pellets.

The use of parallel spin-polarized DT or D3He fuel increases the fusion cross-section by 50%. By implosion-burn simulation for inertially confined fusion (ICF) pellets of the spin-polarized fuels, we found that the input energy requirement could be reduced by nearly a fact of two. These pellets taken up here include large-high-aspect-ratio DT target proposed in ILE Osaka University and DT ignitor/D3He fuel pellet proposed by our group. We also found that the polarized state could survive during the implosion-burn phase.

Simulation of multigroup X-ray, alpha-particle and neutron transport in ion beam driven ICF target.

A one-dimensional Lagrangian code, MEDUSA-IB for the analysis of ion beam fusion target behavior was developed. The code included multigroup X-ray, α-particle and neutron transport models. Photon transport equation was solved by variable Eddington method. Particle tracking method and collision probability method were used for the simulation of α-particle and neutron transport respectively. Temperature dependent ion beam energy deposition was also considered. Each routine of the code was verified separately. The analysis of a bare 1 mg DT target after ignition showed that only neutron transport slightly decreases fusion yield. The analysis of a reactor-size hollow single shell target containing 4.2 mg DT fuel, UTLIF target showed: Radiation and α-particle transport, temperature dependence of ion beam stopping and the equation of states decreased fusion gain when they were considered accurately. Neutron transport slightly increased the gain. The momentum deposition of ion beam and α-particles had very sligh...

Magnetic booster target low velocity high yield impact fusion

A two stage impact fusion concept is proposed. In it the first booster stage is a magnetized low density DT target driven by a projectile accelerated up to ∼ 20 km/sec. The thermonuclear energy released in the booster stage is here used to drive a second stage high density target by ablative implosion, resulting in the release of large quantities of thermonuclear energy. The proposed novel concept has the potential of a near-term low-cost driver for an inertial confinement fusion reactor.

COMPUTER SIMULATION OF LASER IMPLOSIVE COMPRESSION OF A D T TARGET AND ANALYTIC SOLUTIONS ON THE SHOCK WAVES AND THERMAL WAVES

On the basis of analysing the results of a computer simulation of one-dimensional double-temperature laser implosive compression of a DT target, the author has found the analytic solutions on the shock waves and thermal waves which are in good agreement with the computer results.