Study of Plasma Liner Formation for Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion (PJMIF) using Interferometry and Fast Imaging
POSTER
Abstract
Plasma-jet driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF) is an innovative alternative approach towards the realization of controlled fusion, a hybrid concept combining ideas and methodology from the established approaches of pure magnetic confinement and pure inertial confinement. PJMIF aims to achieve fusion through compression of fusion fuel "target" plasmas via spherically imploding plasma shells, i.e., plasma liners that are formed by merging supersonic plasma jets. In this work, we study formation and uniformity of the plasma liner formed by 36 discrete plasma jets at Plasma Liner Experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) using a 5-chord interferometer and fast imaging. The velocity of each jet is measured using a photodiode array at the gun nozzle and can be fine-tuned by adjusting the inlet gas volume using a gas valve bleed relay.
*This material was based upon the work supported, in part, by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AR0001268. This manuscript has been authored in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory/Triad National Security, LLC, Contract No. 89233218CNA000001, with the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
Presenters
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Feng Chu
- Los Alamos National Laboratory