No Arabic abstract
Hot dense capsule implosions driven by z-pinch x-rays have been measured for the first time. A ~220 eV dynamic hohlraum imploded 1.7-2.1 mm diameter gas-filled CH capsules which absorbed up to ~20 kJ of x-rays. Argon tracer atom spectra were used to measure the Te~ 1keV electron temperature and the ne ~ 1-4 x10^23 cm-3 electron density. Spectra from multiple directions provide core symmetry estimates. Computer simulations agree well with the peak compression values of Te, ne, and symmetry, indicating reasonable understanding of the hohlraum and implosion physics.
Using detailed spectroscopic measurements, highly-resolved in both time and space, a self-generated plasma rotation is demonstrated for the first time in a cylindrical Z-pinch implosion with a pre-embedded axial magnetic field. The plasma parameters and all three components of the magnetic field are resolved. The plasma is seen to rotate at a velocity comparable to the peak implosion velocity, considerably affecting the force and energy balance throughout the implosion. Moreover, the evolution of the rotation is consistent with magnetic flux surface isorotation, a novel observation in a Z-pinch.
Different ways to achieve the stabilization of a linear z-pinch by a superimposed shear flow are analyzed. They are: 1) Axial shear flow proposed by Arber and Howell with the pinch discharge in its center, and experimentally tested by Shumlak et al. 2) Spiral flow of a dense low temperature plasma surrounding a dense pinch discharge. 3) A thin metallic projectile shot at a high velocity through the center of the pinch discharge. 4) The replacement of the high velocity projectile by the shape charge effect jet in a conical implosion. 5) The replacement of the jet by a stationary wire inside the conical implosion.
The first integrated implosion experiment of three-axis cylindrical hohlraum (TACH) was accomplished at the SGIII laser facility. 24 laser beams of the SGIII laser facility were carefully chosen and quasi-symmetrically injected into the TACH, in which a highly symmetric radiation filed was generated with a peak radiation temperature of ~190eV. Driven by the radiation field, the neutron yield of a deuterium gas filled capsule reached ~1e9, and the corresponding yield over clean (YOC) was ~40% for a convergence ratio (Cr) of ~17. The X-ray self-emission image of imploded capsule cores was nearly round, and the backscatter fraction of laser beams was less than 1.25%. This experiment preliminarily demonstrated the major performance of TACH, such as the robustness of symmetry, and a laser plasma instability (LPI) behavior similar to that of the outer ring of traditional cylindrical hohlraum.
Inertial Confinement Fusion is a promising option to provide massive, clean, and affordable energy for humanity in the future. The present status of research and development is hindered by hydrodynamic instabilities occurring at the intense compression of the target fuel by energetic laser beams. A recent proposal Csernai et al. (2018) combines advances in two fields: detonations in relativistic fluid dynamics and radiative energy deposition by plasmonic nano-shells. The initial compression of the target pellet can be eliminated or decreased, not to reach instabilities. A final and more energetic laser pulse can achieve rapid volume ignition, which should be as short as the penetration time of the light across the target. In the present study, we discuss a flat fuel target irradiated from both sides simultaneously. Here we propose an ignition energy with smaller compression, largely increased entropy and temperature increase, and instead of external indirect heating and huge energy loss, a maximized internal heating in the target with the help of recent advances in nano-technology. The reflectivity of the target can be made negligible, and the absorptivity can be increased by one or two orders of magnitude by plasmonic nano-shells embedded in the target fuel. Thus, higher ignition temperature and radiation dominated dynamics can be achieved. Here most of the interior will reach the ignition temperature simultaneously based on the results of relativistic fluid dynamics. This makes the development of any kind of instability impossible, which up to now prevented the complete ignition of the target.
Inertial Confinement Fusion is a promising option to provide massive, clean, and affordable energy for mankind in the future. The present status of research and development is hindered by hydrodynamical instabilities occurring at the intense compression of the target fuel by energetic laser beams. A recent patent combines advances in two fields: detonations in relativistic fluid dynamics and radiative energy deposition by plasmonic nano-shells. The compression of the target pellet can be moderate and rapid volume ignition is achieved by a laser pulse, which is as short as the penetration time of the light across the pellet. The reflectivity of the target can be made negligible, and the absorptivity can be increased by one or two orders of magnitude by plasmonic nano-shells embedded in the target fuel. Thus, higher ignition temperature can be achieved with modest compression. The short light pulse can heat the target so that most of the interior will reach the ignition temperature simultaneously. This makes the development of any kind of instability impossible, which would prevent complete ignition of the target.