Magnetized Plasma Target for Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion
arXiv:1803.03323 · doi:10.1007/s10894-018-0168-z
Abstract
We identify the desired characteristics and parameters of a beta>1 magnetized plasma, possibly with highly tangled, open field lines, that could be a suitable target to be compressed to fusion conditions by a spherically imploding plasma liner [S. C. Hsu et al., IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 40, 1287 (2012)] formed by merging hypersonic plasma jets. This concept is known as plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF). We set requirements on the target and liner such that (a) compressional heating dominates over thermal transport in the target, and (b) magnetic amplification due to compression dominates over dissipation over the entire implosion. We also evaluate the requirements to avoid drift-instability-induced anomalous transport and current-driven anomalous resistivity in the target. Next, we describe possible approaches to create such a magnetized, beta>1 plasma target. Finally, assuming such a target can be created, we evaluate the feasibility of a proof-of-concept experiment using presently achievable plasma jets to demonstrate target compressional heating at a plasma-liner kinetic energy of <~ 100 kJ (a few hundred times below that needed in a PJMIF reactor).
arXiv comment17 pages, 20 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in Journal of Fusion Energy
References in corpus (16)
- The Wisconsin Plasma Astrophysics Laboratory
- Experimental characterization of railgun-driven supersonic plasma jets motivated by high energy density physics applications
- Experimental characterization of the stagnation layer between two obliquely merging supersonic plasma jets
- A semi-analytic model of magnetized liner inertial fusion
- Experimental evidence for collisional shock formation via two obliquely merging supersonic plasma jets
- Experiment to Form and Characterize a Section of a Spherically Imploding Plasma Liner
- Tendency of spherically imploding plasma liners formed by merging plasma jets to evolve toward spherical symmetry
- One-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic scaling studies of imploding spherical plasma liners
- Laboratory plasma physics experiments using merging supersonic plasma jets
- Ideal hydrodynamic scaling relations for a stagnated imploding spherical plasma liner formed by an array of merging plasma jets
- Possible Energy Gain for a Plasma Liner-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion Concept
- One-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of imploding spherical plasma liners with detailed equation-of-state modeling
- Semi-analytic model of plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial fusion
- Particle-in-cell simulations of laser beat-wave magnetization of dense plasmas
- Simulations of Magnetic Field Generation in Unmagnetized Plasmas via Beat Wave Current Drive
- Physics Criteria for a Subscale Plasma Liner Experiment
Cited by in corpus (5)
- Retrospective of the ARPA-E ALPHA fusion program
- Experimental characterization of a section of a spherically imploding plasma liner formed by merging hypersonic plasma jets
- Simulation Study of the Influence of Experimental Variations on the Structure and Quality of Plasma Liners
- Characterization of fast magnetosonic waves driven by compact toroid plasma injection along a magnetic field
- Formation of Transient High- Plasmas in a Magnetized, Weakly Collisional Regime