Spectral Measurements to Determine Liner Compressive Performance on the Plasma Liner Experiment (PLX)

POSTER

Abstract

The Plasma Liner Experiment (PLX) at LANL studies the formation and properties of supersonic spherically imploding plasma liners, used in the plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF) concept. The present campaign on PLX focuses on assessing overall liner compressive performance and quantitatively mapping plasma parameters throughout the liner implosion process. Spatially resolved visible light spectroscopy enables evaluation of electron temperature and relative plasma density over the domain of final liner merge, and also detects residual air in the chamber that is swept up by the liner. Coupling these with imaging diagnostics of the implosion, we can also obtain an approximate compression ratio of the residual air, acting as a pseudo-target. These characteristics are illustrative of the potential for PJMIF as a fusion concept.

*This material was based upon the work supported, in part, by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under Award No. DEAR0001268. 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

  • Andrew Lajoie

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

Authors

  • Andrew Lajoie

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Feng Chu

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Samual J Langendorf

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Adam E Brown

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Glen A Wurden

    • Los Alamos Natlonal Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM, USA

  • Mark Gilmore

    • University of New Mexico
    • The University of New Mexico