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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
J.J. Ramirez, K.R. Prestwich, R.W. Stinnett, D.L. Johnson, C.L. Olson, G.O. Allshouse, M.J. Clauser, V.Harper-Slaboszewicz, T.W.L. Sanford, J.D. Boyes, T.A. Mehlhorn, L.J. Lorence, D.L. Hanson, M.E. Cuneo Sandia, R.R. Peterson, R.L. Engelstad, J.W. Powers, H.Y. Khater, M.E. Sawan, E.G. Lovell, G.A. Moses
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 19 | Number 3 | May 1991 | Pages 664-668
Inertial Fusion | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A29420
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Laboratory Microfusion Facility (LMF) is being planned to develop high-gain, high-yield (200 MJ-1000 MJ) ICF targets for applications to nuclear weapons effects simulation, thermonuclear weapons physics, and energy production. It is expected that a 1000-MJ yield will require ∼ 10–20 MJ input energy to the target. The light-ion beam driver concept for the LMF consists of 36 accelerator modules that drive independent Li+ ion diodes. Each ion beam is extracted from an annular ion diode and propagated to a solenoidal lens located near the wall of the target chamber. This magnetic lens focuses the beam on to the pellet located at the center of the target chamber. The temporal shape of the power pulse delivered to the target is controlled by the synchronized firing of the accelerator modules. This paper presents a status of the light-ion beam LMF driver concept.