间接驱动冷冻双壳层点火靶的设计和分析

双壳层靶中,由于燃料被高Z壳层包裹,其点火方式要求燃料整体点火,不同于单壳层中心热斑点火。结合点火条件和对于其中物理过程的认识,设计了间接驱动的冷冻双壳层点火靶。利用冷冻的氘氚(DT)燃料,可适当提高双壳层靶的燃料装量,获得和NIF装置条件下中心热斑点火靶相当的放能。间接驱动下,X射线烧蚀并驱动外壳层碰撞内壳层,把能量传递给内壳层,进而压缩和点燃冷冻的DT燃料。壳层碰撞过程是能量传递的关键,通过调整内外壳层的质量比,提高了碰撞效率,相应地降低了靶丸点火的能量需求。一维数值模拟分析了该点火靶的内爆过程及定性分析了其中的流体力学不稳定性。同时,也指出了泡沫中形成的辐射冲击波对内壳层的预热效应,即辐射冲击波的致稳效应,能够很好地抑制内壳层外界面处的不稳定性发展,进而会减弱高Z内壳层和燃料的混合。     

激光间接驱动惯性约束聚变内爆物理实验研究

激光间接驱动惯性约束聚变利用辐射烧蚀驱动靶丸球形内爆,在减速阶段将内爆动能转化成热斑内能,同时压缩燃料,达到点火条件,实现聚变点火。根据目前认识,影响内爆压缩过程的主要因素包括内爆对称性、燃料熵增因子、内爆速度和混合。内爆物理实验研究的目的是发展对上述影响因素的实验表征方法,获取这些影响因素随靶设计参数的变化规律,建立相应的实验调控能力,最终达到不断提升内爆性能的目的。为此,在内爆对称性方面,开展了Bi球自发光实验,用于研究点火脉冲前2ns驱动不对称性;在内爆速度方面,开展了球面弯晶单能流线实验,测量得到内爆速度和剩余质量随时间的变化;在混合方面,开展了内壳层示踪涂层内爆混合实验,测量得到环形发光图像。为考察综合内爆性能,在神光Ⅱ和神光Ⅲ原型装置上开展了DT内爆实验,获得了中子产额随初始靶参数的变化规律。     

神光系列激光装置内爆烧蚀压缩过程测量

间接驱动惯性约束聚变研究中,获得高内爆速度是实现点火,提升聚变增益的关键。通过对内爆烧蚀压缩过程的测量,能够获得内爆速度和剩余质量等内爆动力学重要的物理量,实现烧蚀层材料、厚度以及激光波形等参数的优化。近几年在神光系列装置上,演示了常规的应用狭缝成像的内爆烧蚀压缩过程测量技术,发展了基于球面弯晶成像的高分辨单能内爆烧蚀压缩过程测量技术。通过对球面弯晶成像系统设计的持续改进以及内爆烧蚀压缩过程测量技术的优化,结合实验室和系统原位标定结果,建立了高分辨的内爆压缩流线诊断技术,采用替代靶方式,实现内了爆速度不确定度2.1%的测量精度。     

多次冲击波压缩DT冰理论研究

 冲击波压缩DT是ICF内爆过程中的主要熵增因素,如何用有限数目的时间整形冲击波实现近等熵压缩过程是优化点火靶设计的关键。利用理想气体和实际DT状态方程,计算系列冲击波压缩后的熵增和密度变化,分析表明,当第一个冲击波压强不大于0.1 TPa,后续再用3个冲击波达到10 TPa,总熵增不影响点火靶DT压缩性能,增加冲击波个数对DT熵增和压缩度改善效果很小。     

双锥对撞点火机制2020年冬季实验中的瑞利-泰勒不稳定性分析

直接驱动激光聚变通过整形后的纳秒脉冲激光辐照氘氚(DT)球壳靶,经球对称压缩加速后,在中心转滞获得高温等离子体热斑,实现聚变点火.在球壳靶受到压缩和加速过程中等离子体界面的流体力学不稳定性,特别是瑞利-泰勒不稳定性的增长有可能会对压缩壳层造成破坏,导致点火的失败.本文通过理论解析和数值模拟,对基于Zhang等提出的双锥对撞点火方案(2020 Philos.Trans.A Math.Phys.Eng.Sci.378 20200015)在2020年冬季实验条件下的流体力学不稳定性增长进行了分析.结果显示理论模型与一维数值模拟中对整体压缩和加速过程的描述基本一致,在当前的近等熵波形下金锥中的壳层靶实现了低熵压缩,同时瑞利-泰勒不稳定性增长导致的最危险时刻扰动振幅和壳层厚度比可以达到约0.25,壳层依然处于安全状态,但当初始壳层表面扰动均方根振幅大于22 nm时,则可能出现壳层的破裂.因此,未来实验中的靶设计与驱动激光脉冲波形设计中可以通过增加靶壳层厚度、提高预脉冲强度、减小靶表面的粗糙度和提高激光辐照的匀滑度等方式来抑制不稳定性增长.     

直接驱动球内爆点火的数值模拟

 实现中心点火的基本条件是在内爆中心形成面密度0.3 g/cm²，温度10 keV的点火热斑。减速阶段流体不稳定性的增长，会破坏对称压缩，减小热斑体积，直接破坏点火热斑的形成，对点火构成威胁。在原有LARED-S程序的基础上，加入热核反应和α粒子加热过程程序模块，对直接驱动ICF球内爆过程进行数值模拟研究，1维模拟结果与NIF直接驱动点火靶的设计基本相符，显示α粒子加热对边缘点火起重要作用；2维模拟表明减速阶段流体不稳定性对点火有重要影响。     

辐射驱动内爆流线实验测量

内爆速度的测量是惯性约束聚变研究中的核心问题, 是判断聚变点火反应的关键物理量. 在神光II激光装置上, 利用KB显微镜配合时间分辨为10 ps的条纹相机, 对1600 J激光能量注入, 3倍频, 脉宽为1 ns黑腔辐射驱动CH靶球, 获得了清晰的辐射驱动内爆流线轨迹X射线图像. 通过流线轨迹图像给出了最大内爆速度为160 km/s. 利用Multi1D程序对内爆压缩流线和壳层速度变化进行了模拟, 实验数据和理论模拟较符合.     

离子-电子非平衡机制降低中心热斑点火条件

提出通过离子-电子非平衡物理模型来降低惯性约束聚变中心热斑点火的聚变点火条件。在该物理模型中,强调离子比电子具备更高的温度,从而使得热斑的热核聚变反应增强,轫致辐射和电子热传导造成的能量漏失相对降低。通过对中心热斑的自加热分析和热斑燃烧动力学分析,发现相对于平衡聚变点火模型,非平衡模型可以显著扩大聚变点火区在热斑面密度和热斑温度空间的范围。同时采用LARED-S程序的数值模拟,研究了通过尖峰脉冲波形、二次冲击物理机制强化中心热斑聚变点火的非平衡性。     

激光聚变冲击点火物理特性研究

冲击点火是一种新型的惯性约束聚变点火方案,该点火方案具有低点火能量阈值、高增益和较好的流体力学稳定性等优点.本文针对冲击点火的物理特性进行理论分析和数值模拟.首先以一维平板模型对冲击波碰撞的物理过程进行理论研究和分析;然后通过辐射流体力学数值模拟对冲击点火的物理特性进行研究,验证理论分析结果,并考察冲击加载时间对点火的影响. 关键词： 冲击点火 冲击波碰撞 辐射流体力学模拟     

点火靶高熵内爆的数值模拟

使用一维多群输运程序RDMG与二维少群扩散程序LARED-S对点火靶高脚与低脚内爆进行数值模拟.相对于低熵内爆,高脚高熵内爆通过提高预脉冲的辐射温度使得烧蚀面与物质界面的流体稳定性得到明显的改善,能够抑制流体不稳定的增长与热斑混合的发展.同时,高熵设计导致燃料的压缩变差,阻滞时刻燃料的压缩密度与面密度相应降低,中子产额降低.因此,高脚高熵内爆是通过牺牲燃料的高压缩,来换取靶丸内爆流体稳定性能的改善.     

Shock ignition of thermonuclear fuel with high areal density

A novel method by C. Zhou and R. Betti [Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 50, 140 (2005)] to assemble and ignite thermonuclear fuel is presented. Massive cryogenic shells are first imploded by direct laser light with a low implosion velocity and on a low adiabat leading to fuel assemblies with large areal densities. The assembled fuel is ignited from a central hot spot heated by the collision of a spherically convergent ignitor shock and the return shock. The resulting fuel assembly features a hot-spot pressure greater than the surrounding dense fuel pressure. Such a nonisobaric assembly requires a lower energy threshold for ignition than the conventional isobaric one. The ignitor shock can be launched by a spike in the laser power or by particle beams. The thermonuclear gain can be significantly larger than in conventional isobaric ignition for equal driver energy.     

激光脉冲参数对冲击点火的影响

针对激光脉冲参数对冲击点火的影响进行理论分析和数值模拟.首先从冲击波的产生和碰撞过程出发,理论分析冲击脉冲峰值功率、脉宽和上升沿时间对点火的影响;然后通过数值模拟,以点火时间窗口作为评价标准,验证理论分析结果.研究表明:冲击脉冲峰值功率是点火成败的关键因素之一,脉冲宽度则需达到百皮秒以提供足够的点火能量,上升沿时间在小于600 ps的情况下不会对点火造成明显影响. 关键词： 冲击点火 激光冲击脉冲 点火时间窗口     

基于现役装置的冲击点火可行性概念研究

以冲击点火物理特性的研究为基础, 分析冲击点火对高功率激光驱动器的物理需求, 然后从总体层面概括给出基于现役装置(神光III等间接驱动中心点火高功率激光装置) 研究冲击点火面临的关键技术问题. 研究表明, 基于现役装置的冲击点火主要面临两个层面的问题, 首先是非均匀光路排布下实现均匀辐照的工程层面问题, 其次是在现役装置上高效实现冲击点火激光脉冲的激光技术层面问题. 通过研究 分别对两个层面的问题提出相应的解决思路, 为后续研究奠定基础.     

On the path to fusion energy

There is a need to develop alternate energy sources in the coming century because fossil fuels will become depleted and their use may lead to global climate change. Inertial fusion can become such an energy source, but significant progress must be made before its promise is realized. The high-density approach to inertial fusion suggested by Nuckolls et al. leads reaction chambers compatible with civilian power production. Methods to achieve the good control of hydrodynamic stability and implosion symmetry required to achieve these high fuel densities will be discussed. Fast Ignition, a technique that achieves fusion ignition by igniting fusion fuel after it is assembled, will be described along with its gain curves. Fusion costs of energy for conventional hotspot ignition will be compared with those of Fast Ignition and their capital costs compared with advanced fission plants. Finally, techniques that may improve possible Fast Ignition gains by an order of magnitude and reduce driver scales by an order of magnitude below conventional ignition requirements are described.     

Transport and Energy Deposition of hot Electrons through the Shock Ignition pre Compressed Target

Shock ignition as an alternative scheme of the laser fusion has the potential of achieving efficient implosion. However, hot electrons produced in result of ignitor‐corona interaction may penetrate deep into the fuel making the compression less effective. Transport and energy deposition of hot electron beam into the dense pre compressed of HiPER target by means of Monte Carlo approach are discussed considering the influence of real density and electron beam characteristics. The target parameters before igniting the hot spot have been extracted from a fluid code and used as the initial profile for Monte Carlo simulations. In comparison with simplified step like density profile, electrons penetrate slightly deeper in the case of real shaped density profile. In addition, deposition zone of a broad spectrum electron beam is wider while, monoenergetic electrons depose their energy locally resulting more maximum energy deposition value. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dependence of shell mix on feedthrough in direct drive inertial confinement fusion

The mixing of cold, high-density shell plasma with the low-density, hot spot plasma by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in inertial confinement fusion is experimentally shown to correlate with the calculated perturbation feedthrough from the ablation surface to the inner shell surface. A fourfold decrease in the density of shell material in the mix region of direct drive implosions of gas filled spherical plastic shells having predicted convergence ratios approximately 15 was observed when laser imprint levels were reduced and the initial shell was thicker, corresponding to a reduction in the feedthrough rms level by a factor of 6. Shell mix is also shown to limit the spherical compression of the implosion.     

快点火锥壳靶压缩对称性及燃料分布测量实验研究北大核心CSCD

快点火激光惯性约束聚变将压缩与点火过程分开,与中心点火方式相比,大大放宽了对压缩对称性和能量的要求,是国际惯性约束聚变研究的热点方向。在神光Ⅱ装置上开展的快点火锥壳靶预压缩实验中,背光分幅图像显示导引锥及输运丝对靶丸预压缩过程无明显影响,实验结果与一维数值模拟结果吻合也证明了该结论;实验中通过调节导引锥尺寸和相对靶丸的位置,可保证最大压缩时刻导引锥保存完好,这对超热电子的输运以及能量沉积是至关重要的。     

Optimal design of shock ignition target in order to stop generated hot electrons within the cold fuel

Generation of hot electrons (HEs) within ignitor pulse interaction with pre-compressed fuel is an important challenge in the shock ignition approach. Target optimization in order to prevent the destructive effects of HE is the main goal of the present work. In the first stage, the spectrum of electron energy generated during the interaction of ignitor pulse at different widths with the HiPER pre-compressed target has been estimated by applying particle simulation tool. Then, by changing the thickness of the cold fuel in the range of 185–225 μm, the corresponding areal densities are calculated using 1D hydrodynamic simulations. Finally, in order to assess the energy fusion yield, the iso-gain curves are obtained for different ignitor time windows as well as target thicknesses. Simulation results indicate that by decreasing the baseline, target thickness leads to a 17–70% increase in the fuel areal density. Subsequently, it has been demonstrated that by properly adjusting the parameters of ignitor pulse launch time and its width and employing a target with areal density high enough to stop the HEs, energy gain above 140 can be achieved. Optimal areas for shell thickness and ignitor time window are identified.     

Demonstration of radiation pulse shaping with nested-tungsten-wire-array pinches for high-yield inertial confinement fusion

Nested wire-array pinches are shown to generate soft x-ray radiation pulse shapes required for three-shock isentropic compression and hot-spot ignition of high-yield inertial confinement fusion capsules. We demonstrate a reproducible and tunable foot pulse (first shock) produced by interaction of the outer and inner arrays. A first-step pulse (second shock) is produced by inner array collision with a central CH2 foam target. Stagnation of the inner array at the axis produces the third shock. Capsules optimized for several of these shapes produce 290-900 MJ fusion yields in 1D simulations.