Status of Light Ion Inertial Fusion Research at NRL (Naval Research Laboratory).
Abstract
High-brightness proton beams have recently been extracted from axial pinch-reflex diodes (PRD) mounted on the Gamble II generator. The source power brightness that was measured exceeded 10 TW/sq cm sq rad. Analysis of a modular Inertial confinement fusion system using such diodes shows that an operational window for transport of light-ion species exists. Multi-terawatt beams can be transported a few meters in channels a few centimeters in diameter. A proof-of-principle experiment for the required final focusing cell has been successfully carried out on Gamble II. A new barrel-shaped equatorial PRD that can be coupled to PBFA II as a single diode has also been operated on Gamble II and has demonstrated 50% ion efficiency with predominantly azimuthally-symmetric charged-particle flow. Preliminary experiments using vacuum inductive storage and plasma opening switches have demonstrated factor-of-three pulse compressions, with corresponding power and voltage multiplications for pulse durations of interest to PBFA II. In other experiments the stopping power of deuterons in hot plasmas was measured. Results show about 40% enhancement in stopping power over that in cold targets when the deuteron beam is focused on the target to about 0.25 MA/sq cm. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA135951
Entities
People
- Dennis G. Colombant
- Gerald Cooperstein
- Paul F. Ottinger
- R. J. Barker
- S. A. Goldstein
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory