Thermonuclear Reaction Waves at High Densities,
Abstract
Phenomena are studied of the ignition and the development of plane thermonuclear reaction waves propagating through solid density deuterium-tritium plasmas. The motivation of this study is to explore and understand laser heating of solid D-T targets for possible controlled thermonuclear fusion applications. The state of the plasma can be described by a two temperature gas and in general, it is optically thin to its own radiation. The equations governing the change of density, velocity, electron temperature, ion temperature and degree of reaction are derived from the conservation laws and the laws of reaction kinetics. The physics are contained within a set of five coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. Terms in the equations take explicit account of thermonuclear reactions and heating, conduction, electron-ion equilibration, bremsstrahlung cooling and other fluid dynamic effects. Qualitative behavior of the physical variables is discussed. Solutions of the equations are obtained by employing finite difference techniques. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0720839
Entities
People
- Ming-sheng Chu
Organizations
- Columbia University