Cryogenic Hydrogen Fuel for Controlled Inertial Confinement Fusion (Cryogenic Target Factory Concept Based on FST-Layering Method)

• Published in: Physics of atomic nuclei Vol. 80; no. 7; pp. 1227 - 1248
• Main Authors: Aleksandrova, I. V., Koresheva, E. R., Koshelev, I. E., Krokhin, O. N., Nikitenko, A. I., Osipov, I. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.12.2017; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; Analysis; Commercialization; Cryogenic effects; CRYOGENICS; Electric power generation; Electric power plants; ELECTRON BEAM TARGETS; Flight; High temperature superconductors; Holography; Hydrogen; HYDROGEN FUELS; INERTIAL CONFINEMENT; Inertial confinement fusion; ION BEAM TARGETS; LASER TARGETS; Laser-plasma interactions; Layering; LAYERS; Levitation; MAGNETIC FIELDS; Mass production; Methods; Nuclear fuels; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Pellet fusion; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; RUSSIAN FEDERATION; SUPERCONDUCTORS; TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K; Tracking; inertial confinement fusion; magnetic levitation (maglev); cryogenic target factory; Fourier holography; in-line production; high-temperature superconductors; free-standing target (FST)
• ISSN: 1063-7788; 1562-692X
• DOI: 10.1134/S1063778817070018

A central element of a power plant based on inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a target with cryogenic hydrogen fuel that should be delivered to the center of a reactor chamber with a high accuracy and repetition rate. Therefore, a cryogenic target factory (CTF) is an integral part of any ICF reactor. A promising way to solve this problem consists in the FST layering method developed at the Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI). This method (rapid fuel layering inside moving free-standing targets) is unique, having no analogs in the world. The further development of FST-layering technologies is implemented in the scope of the LPI program for the creation of a modular CTF and commercialization of the obtained results. In this report, we discuss our concept of CTF (CTF-LPI) that exhibits the following distinctive features: using a FST-layering technology for the elaboration of an in-line production of cryogenic targets, using an effect of quantum levitation of high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs) in magnetic field for noncontacting manipulation, transport, and positioning of the free-standing cryogenic targets, as well as in using a Fourier holography technique for an on-line characterization and tracking of the targets flying into the reactor chamber. The results of original experimental and theoretical investigations performed at LPI indicate that the existing and developing target fabrication capabilities and technologies can be applied to ICF target production. The unique scientific, engineering, and technological base developed in Russia at LPI allows one to make a CTFLPI prototype for mass production of targets and delivery thereof at the required velocity into the ICF reactor chamber.