Importance of radiation effects in ion‐beam‐driven inertial fusion target calculations: Compensation of range shortening by radiation transport in ion‐beam‐generated plasmas

• Published in: The Physics of fluids (1958) 1986-04, Vol.29 (4), p.1282-1290
• Main Authors: Tahir, N. A., Long, K. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic confinement and equilibrium; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges
• ISSN: 0031-9171; 2163-4998
• DOI: 10.1063/1.865877

In this paper computer simulation results showing that radiation can compensate for range shortening in ion‐beam inertial fusion targets are presented. Simulation results of ablation, compression, ignition, burn, and hydrodynamic stability of a heavy ion‐beam‐driven, reactor‐size, inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target including radiation transport are also reported. In this target design the fuel is protected against radiative preheat by a high‐Z, high‐ρ lead radiation shield, and the fuel is separated from the radiation shield by a low‐Z, low‐ρ lithium cushion. This avoids mixing of the lead from the radiation shield into the fuel at the end of the implosion. The target is driven by 10 GeV Bi+ + ions, and it yields an output energy of ∼690 MJ for an imput energy of ∼4.56 MJ, so that the overall target gain is ∼152. The peak power in the input pulse is 500 TW.