Development of Imploding Liner Systems for the NRL LINUS Program
Abstract
For nearly two decades, the idea of creating fusion plasmas by the implosion of cylindrical shells or liners has appealed to workers interested in high energy density systems. A variety of schemes have been offered over the years to accomplish the adiabatic compression of plasmas at megagauss magnetic field levels by imploding liner magnetic flux compression techniques. The two main elements of such schemes have been the implosion of an electrically conducting cylindrical liner and the creation of an initial plasma suitable for compression by the surrounding liner. Some progress has been made both experimentally and conceptually in regard to plasmas that could be compressed by liner implosion, but no experimental test has yet been accomplished successfully in which the energy and temperature of the magnetically-confined plasma has been increased into a significant regime by liner implosion. Considerable progress has been made, however, in developing liner implosion techniques suitable for both experimental development and eventual imploding liner fusion reactors. The principal development has been the achievement of controlled, reversible liner implosions with excellent symmetry and surface quality. This paper reviews some of the highlights of the development of liner implosion systems at the Naval Research Laboratory and indicates directions of future work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 28, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA075005
Entities
People
- A. L. Cooper
- D. J. Jenkins
- J. Cameron
- P. J. Turchi
- R. D. Ford
- R. L. Burton
- R. Lanham
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory