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Paddock RW, Martin H, Ruskov RT, Scott RHH, Garbett W, Haines BM, Zylstra AB, Aboushelbaya R, Mayr MW, Spiers BT, Wang RHW, Norreys PA. One-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of low convergence ratio direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2021; 379:20200224. [PMID: 33280567 PMCID: PMC7741005 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Indirect drive inertial confinement fusion experiments with convergence ratios below 17 have been previously shown to be less susceptible to Rayleigh-Taylor hydrodynamic instabilities, making this regime highly interesting for fusion science. Additional limitations imposed on the implosion velocity, in-flight aspect ratio and applied laser power aim to further reduce instability growth, resulting in a new regime where performance can be well represented by one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic simulations. A simulation campaign was performed using the 1D radiation-hydrodynamics code HYADES to investigate the performance that could be achieved using direct-drive implosions of liquid layer capsules, over a range of relevant energies. Results include potential gains of 0.19 on LMJ-scale systems and 0.75 on NIF-scale systems, and a reactor-level gain of 54 for an 8.5 MJ implosion. While the use of 1D simulations limits the accuracy of these results, they indicate a sufficiently high level of performance to warrant further investigations and verification of this new low-instability regime. This potentially suggests an attractive new approach to fusion energy. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. W. Paddock
- Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - H. Martin
- University College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R. T. Ruskov
- University College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R. H. H. Scott
- Central Laser Facility, STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK
| | - W. Garbett
- AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4PR, UK
| | - B. M. Haines
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS T087, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - A. B. Zylstra
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | | | - M. W. Mayr
- Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - B. T. Spiers
- Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R. H. W. Wang
- Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - P. A. Norreys
- Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- University College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Central Laser Facility, STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK
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Norreys PA, Ridgers C, Lancaster K, Koepke M, Tynan G. Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy: an introduction to the second edition. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2021; 379:20200028. [PMID: 33280563 PMCID: PMC7741012 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Part II of this special edition contains the remaining 11 papers arising from a Hooke discussion meeting held in March 2020 devoted to exploring the current status of inertial confinement fusion research worldwide and its application to electrical power generation in the future, via the development of an international inertial fusion energy programme. It builds upon increased coordination within Europe over the past decade by researchers supported by the EUROFusion Enabling Research grants, as well as collaborations that have arisen naturally with some of America's and Asia's leading researchers, both in the universities and national laboratories. The articles are devoted to informing an update to the European roadmap for an inertial fusion energy demonstration reactor, building upon the commonalities between the magnetic and inertial fusion communities' approaches to fusion energy. A number of studies devoted to understanding the physics barriers to ignition on current facilities are then presented. The special issue concludes with four state-of-the-art articles describing recent significant advances in fast ignition inertial fusion research. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A. Norreys
- Atomic and Laser Physics Sub-department, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Clarendon Laboratory, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK
- Central Laser Facility, UKRI-STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | | | - Kate Lancaster
- Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Mark Koepke
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, White Hall, Box 5315, Morgantown, WV 26506-6315, USA
| | - George Tynan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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