C.L. Olson

Pulsed-power-driven high energy density physics and inertial confinement fusion research

The Z accelerator [R. B. Spielman, W. A. Stygar, J. F. Seamen et al., Proceedings of the 11th International Pulsed Power Conference, Baltimore, MD, 1997, edited by G. Cooperstein and I. Vitkovitsky (IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, 1997), Vol. 1, p. 709] at Sandia National Laboratories delivers ∼20MA load currents to create high magnetic fields (>1000T) and high pressures (megabar to gigabar). In a z-pinch configuration, the magnetic pressure (the Lorentz force) supersonically implodes a plasma created from a cylindrical wire array, which at stagnation typically generates a plasma with energy densities of about 10MJ∕cm3 and temperatures >1keV at 0.1% of solid density. These plasmas produce x-ray energies approaching 2MJ at powers >200TW for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and high energy density physics (HEDP) experiments. In an alternative configuration, the large magnetic pressure directly drives isentropic compression experiments to pressures >3Mbar and accelerates flyer plates to >30km∕s for equation of state ...

Ion beam propagation and focusing

Inertial confinement fusion with ion beams requires the efficient delivery of high energy (≳1 MJ), high power (≳100 TW) ion beams to a small fusion target. The propagation and focusing of such beams is the subject of this paper. Fundamental constraints on ion beam propagation and focusing are discussed, and ion beam propagation modes are categorized. For light ion fusion (LIF), large currents (2–33 MA) of moderate energy (3–50 MeV) ions of low atomic number (1⩽A≲12) must be directed to a target of radius ≲1 cm. The development of pulsed power ion diodes for LIF is discussed, and the necessity for virtually complete charge neutralization during transport and focusing is emphasized. Fornear-term LIF experiments, the goal is to produce pellet ignition without the standoff needed for the ultimate reactor application. Ion diodes for use on Sandia National Laboratories Particle Beam Fusion Accelerators PBFA-I (2–4 MV, 1 MJ, 30 TW, operational) and PBFA-II (2–16 MV, 3.5 MJ, 100 TW, scheduled for operation in 1985) are discussed. Ion beam transport from these diodes to the pellet is examined in reference to the power brightness ℬ. While values of ℬ=2–5 TW/cm2/sr have been achieved to date, a value of ℬ≈100 TW/cm2/sr is needed for breakeven. Research is now directed toward increasing ℬ, and means already exist (e.g., scaling to higher voltages, enhanced ion diode current densities, and bunching), which indicate that the required goal should be attainable. Forfar-term LIF applications, the goal is to produce net energy gain with standoff suitable for a reactor. This may be achieved by ion beam transport in preformed, current-carrying plasma channels. Channel transport research is discussed, including experiments with wire-initiated, wall-initiated, and laser-initiated discharge channels, all of which have demonstrated transport with high efficiency (50–100%). Alternate approaches to LIF are also discussed, including comoving electron beam schemes and a neutralized beam scheme. For heavy ion fusion (HIF), moderate currents (∼10 kA) of high energy (∼10 GeV) ions of high atomic number (A≳200) must be directed to a target of radius ≲0.3 cm. Conventional accelerator drivers for HIF are noted. For a baseline HIF reactor system, the optimum transport mode for low charge state beams is ballistic transport in near vacuum (10−4–10−3 Torr lithium), although a host of other possibilities exists. Development of transport modes suitable for higher charge state HIF beams may ultimately result in more economical HIF accelerator schemes. Alternate approaches to HIF are also discussed which involve collective effects accelerators. The status of the various ion beam transport and focusing modes for LIF and HIF are summarized, and the directions of future research are indicated.

Theory of ion acceleration by drifting intense relativistic electron beams. I. Theory

A theory that describes the collective acceleration of ions by an intense relativistic electron beam injected into a metallic guide tube filled with neutral gas at low pressure is presented. The acceleration mechanism is shown to be of electrostatic origin (although it is different from those employed in previous electrostatic theories), and its many parametric dependences are identified and discussed. In the theory, ion acceleration occurs in the electrostatic fields of a two‐dimensional, time‐dependent, potential well, which is described by the self‐consistent coupling of the beam dynamics with the ionization processes of the neutral gas. The theory divides into the cases (i) I0 ≳ Il, and (ii) I0 ≪ Il, where I0 is the peak injected beam current and Il is the space‐charge limiting current. For case (i), the beam initially stops at the anode and creates a deep potential well. At roughly the charge neutralization time, a nonadiabatic transition occurs, the beam begins to propagate, and an ion bunch is acce...

Coupled particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo transport modeling of intense radiographic sources

Dose-rate calculations for intense electron-beam diodes using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations along with Monte Carlo electron/photon transport calculations are presented. The electromagnetic PIC simulations are used to model the dynamic operation of the rod-pinch and immersed-B diodes. These simulations include algorithms for tracking electron scattering and energy loss in dense materials. The positions and momenta of photons created in these materials are recorded and separate Monte Carlo calculations are used to transport the photons to determine the dose in far-field detectors. These combined calculations are used to determine radiographer equations (dose scaling as a function of diode current and voltage) that are compared directly with measured dose rates obtained on the SABRE generator at Sandia National Laboratories.

Simulations of intense heavy ion beams propagating through a gaseous fusion target chamber

In heavy-ion inertial confinement fusion (HIF), an ion beam is transported several meters through the reactor chamber to the target. This standoff distance mitigates damage to the accelerator from the target explosion. For the high perveance beams and millimeter-scale targets under consideration, the transport method is largely determined by the degree of ion charge and current neutralization in the chamber. This neutralization becomes increasingly difficult as the beam interacts with the ambient chamber environment and strips to higher charge states. Nearly complete neutralization permits neutralized-ballistic transport (main-line HIF transport method), where the ion beam enters the chamber at roughly 3-cm radius and focuses onto the target. In the backup pinched-transport schemes, the beam is first focused outside the chamber before propagating at small radius to the target. With nearly complete charge neutralization, the large beam divergence is contained by a strong magnetic field resulting from rough...

Development Path for Z-Pinch IFE

Abstract The long-range goal of the Z-Pinch IFE program is to produce an economically-attractive power plant using high-yield z-pinch-driven targets (~3GJ) with low rep-rate per chamber (~0.1 Hz). The present mainline choice for a Z-Pinch IFE power plant uses an LTD (Linear Transformer Driver) repetitive pulsed power driver, a Recyclable Transmission Line (RTL), a dynamic hohlraum z-pinch-driven target, and a thick-liquid wall chamber. The RTL connects the pulsed power driver directly to the z-pinch-driven target, and is made from frozen coolant or a material that is easily separable from the coolant (such as carbon steel). The RTL is destroyed by the fusion explosion, but the RTL materials are recycled, and a new RTL is inserted on each shot. A development path for Z-Pinch IFE has been created that complements and leverages the NNSA DP ICF program. Funding by a U.S. Congressional initiative of

Simulation of charged‐particle beam transport in a gas using a hybrid particle‐fluid plasma model

4M for FY04 through NNSA DP is supporting assessment and initial research on (1) RTLs, (2) repetitive pulsed power drivers, (3) shock mitigation [because of the high yield targets], (4) planning for a proof-of-principle full RTL cycle demonstration [with a 1 MA, 1 MV, 100 ns, 0.1 Hz driver], (5) IFE target studies for multi-GJ yield targets, and (6) z-pinch IFE power plant engineering and technology development. Initial results from all areas of this research are discussed.

The Science and Technologies for Fusion Energy With Lasers and Direct-Drive Targets

The simulation of charged‐particle beam transport in a ∼1 Torr gas requires accurate plasma‐electron modeling. A simple resistive model, which assumes local energy deposition and a thermal plasma‐electron distribution, is inadequate. A hybrid model has been implemented into the particle‐in‐cell simulation code, iprop (The iprop Three‐Dimensional Beam Propagation Code, AMRC‐R‐966, available from D. Welch, Mission Research Corporation, 1720 Randolph Road SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, September 1987), in which plasma electrons are divided into high‐energy macroparticle and thermal‐fluid components. This model, which includes ‘‘knock‐on’’ bound‐electron collision and runaway sources for high‐energy electrons, is then used in the simulation of relativistic electron‐beam and ion‐beam experiments. Results are found to be in agreement with HERMES III [Performance of the HERMES III Gamma Ray Simulator, in Digest of Technical Papers, 7th IEEE Pulsed Power Conference, Monterey, CA, 11 June 1989 (Institute of Electrical...

Progress in z-pinch driven dynamic-hohlraums for high-temperature radiation-flow and ICF experiments at Sandia National Laboratories

We are carrying out a multidisciplinary multi-institutional program to develop the scientific and technical basis for inertial fusion energy (IFE) based on laser drivers and direct-drive targets. The key components are developed as an integrated system, linking the science, technology, and final application of a 1000-MWe pure-fusion power plant. The science and technologies developed here are flexible enough to be applied to other size systems. The scientific justification for this work is a family of target designs (simulations) that show that direct drive has the potential to provide the high gains needed for a pure-fusion power plant. Two competing lasers are under development: the diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPPSL) and the electron-beam-pumped krypton fluoride (KrF) gas laser. This paper will present the current state of the art in the target designs and lasers, as well as the other IFE technologies required for energy, including final optics (grazing incidence and dielectrics), chambers, and target fabrication, injection, and tracking technologies. All of these are applicable to both laser systems and to other laser IFE-based concepts. However, in some of the higher performance target designs, the DPPSL will require more energy to reach the same yield as with the KrF laser.

Recent experimental results on ICF target implosions by Z-pinch radiation sources and their relevance to ICF ignition studies

Progress in understanding the physics of dynamic-hohlraums is reviewed for a system capable of generating 13 TW of axial radiation for high temperature (>200 eV) radiation-flow experiments and ICF capsule implosions.