Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy Research Articles

Pulsed Activation Modeling for Chamber Materials of IFE Power Reactors and Experimental Facilities

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) devices, both test/experimental facilities and fusion energy (IFE) power plants, will operate in a pulsed mode. However, the pulsing schedule in these devices is very different, and it could range from one shot every several days in an experimental facility to some Hz in IFE reactors. The main objective of the present work is to determine whether or not a continuous-pulsed (CP) approach could be an accurate and practical methodology in modeling the pulsed activation experienced by chamber materials of both types of devices. In testing the applicability of the CP irradiation model, we used materials and neutron environment scenarios of the HYLIFE-II reactor and the NIF experimental facility. It is demonstrated that a CP approach consisting of a continuous irradiation period followed by a series of only a few pulses prior to shutdown, can efficiently model the real pulsed operating regimes of the chamber materials, in terms of both accuracy and CPU time consumption. Pros and cons of the model when compared with an equivalent steady-state (ESS) method are discussed, and comparison with the exact pulsed (EP) modeling is also performed.

DIRECT CONVERSION OF THE ENERGY OF LASER AND FUSION PLASMA CLOUDS TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY DURING EXPANSION IN A MAGNETIC FIELD

The paper deals with the physical and electrotechnical principles of the promising method of direct conversion of the kinetic energy of an expanding plasma cloud to electrical energy by inductive generation of currents in short–circuited load coils that enclose the plasma and are oriented across the external magnetic field. An analysis of plasma deceleration by a magnetic field and transfer of plasma energy to an inductive load gave a solution of the problem in general form and the dimensionless parameters of the problem that determine the deceleration radius, the coil current, and the theoretical conversion efficiency. The role of the basic physical effects, including parasitic ones (plasma instabilities and Joule heating), influencing the real efficiency is assessed. A comparison of the results with data of experiments with laser–produced plasma clouds on a KI–1 facility and with available numerical results shows that in the optimized version of the method for conversion of inertial confinement fusion energy, a 30% efficiency can be achieved.

Application study of inertial confinement fusion energy.

Application study of inertial confinement fusion energy.

Theoretical evaluation of electron-beam-excited KrF lasers using argon-free mixtures of one atmosphere

The output performance of the electron-beam-excited KrF laser operating at one atmosphere is theoretically analyzed because the KrF laser at one atmosphere can greatly reduce the design constraints on the large laser windows and the electron-beam pressure foils in a huge laser system as the inertial confinement fusion energy driver. The KrF laser using the atmospheric pressure, argon-free laser mixture is found to operate with an intrinsic laser efficiency as high as that of high-pressure, aregon-diluted mixtures. This is because three-body collisional quenching is not a detrimental energy-loss channel for the atmospheric pressure operation. By using higher excitation rate and shorter excitation pulse width pumping, higher intrinsic laser efficiency than conventional, argon-diluted, high-pressure mixtures is found to be attainable. Moreover, the specific laser energy (28 J/l, for 1-atm Kr/F2 mixtures pumped by an electron beam of 100 ns, 600 keV, and 150 A/cm2) is comparable to that of two-atm, argon-rich laser gas mixtures under the same excitation condition.

Plasmas in Particle Accelerators: A Hydrodynamic Model of Three-Dimensional Electrostatic Instabilities

In an earlier paper, closed hydrodynamic equations were derived with possible application to the simulation of beam plasmas relevant to designs of heavy ion accelerators for inertial confinement fusion energy applications. The closure equations involved a novel feature of anisotropic stresses even transverse to the beam. A related hydrodynamic model is used in this paper to examine further the boundaries of validity of such hydrodynamic approximations. It is also proposed as a useful tool to provide an economic means for searching the large parameter space relevant to three-dimensional stability problems involving coupling of longitudinal and transverse motions in the presence of wall impedance.

Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy with Particle Beams

This paper introduces the concepts associated with inertial confinement fusion (ICF) energy production, and outlines particle beam technologies of interest for ICF applications with emphasis on ion beams. Progress in obtaining larger thermonuclear neutron yields from laser fusion pellets and the constantly improved understanding of these experiments, makes the application of particle beam techniques to this area look increasingly promising. The reason for this is that lasers suitable for demonstrating the feasibility of igniting fusion pellets are becoming available, but lasers offering the requisite properties for fusion power plant application have apparently not been identified. Accelerator designers can suggest several promising avenues to produce a driver for a power plant. To place some perspective on the issues, a brief review will be given of ICF target requirements. This will be followed by a brief historical view of heavy ion fusion, a synopsis of the various accelerator approaches and associated problems that have been recognized, and a summary of power plant considerations.

Plasma physics: A review and applications with special reference to inertial confinement fusion energy

A brief description of plasma, its types and fundamental requirements necessary to study the physics of plasma has been presented through this article. Information given here would be useful to those who have the basic knowledge of physics. Mathematical complications have been avoided to suit the purpose. Varied applications of plasma have been introduced. A little detail has been devoted to one of the major applications of plasma physics known as theoretical thermonuclear fusion studies. Physics of inertial confinement together with the role of self-generated magnetic field in the design of fusion targets have also been described.
 
 Himalayan Journal of Sciences 1(1): 21-24, 2003