Review of Japanese fusion program and role of inertial fusion

The high compression of 600 times liquid density and the recent fast heating of a compressed core to 1-keV temperature have provided proof-of-principle of the fast ignition concept, and these results have significantly contributed to approve first phase of the Fast Ignition Realization EXperiment (FIREX) project. The goal of FIREX-I is to demonstrate fast heating of a fusion fuel up to the ignition temperature of 5–10 keV. Although the fuel size of FIREX-I is too small to ignite, sufficient heating will provide the scientific viability of ignition-and-burn by increasing the laser energy thereby the fuel size. Based on the result of FIREX-I, the decision of the start of FIREX-II to achieve ignition-and-burn can be made. The FIREX program is under the collaboration of the Institute of Laser Engineering and the National Institute for Fusion Science.     

Recent results and future prospects of laser fusion research at ILE, Osaka

Reviewed are the present status of the fast ignition researches. Since 1997, the fast ignition experiment and theory researches have been extensively continued at the Institute of Laser Engineering of Osaka University. In particular, the cone-shell target experiments and simulation research have been progressing. In order to demonstrate heating of imploded high density plasma to the ignition temperature, in the April of 2003, the construction of heating laser of 10 kJ/10 ps/1.06 μm (Laser for Fusion Experiment; LFEX), for FIREX-I (Fast Ignition Realization Experiment) has started. The fabrication of DT foam cryogenic cone target is also under development as a collaboration program between Osaka University and NIFS (National Institute for Fusion Science). The LFEX will be completed in 2008. After the completion of LFEX, the foam cryogenic cone shell target experiment will start in 2008. As a new approach toward a compact ignition, an impact fusion has been proposed, where the ablative acceleration to the order of 10⁸ cm/s is the key issue. The ablation acceleration related to the impact fusion has been explored by experiments.     

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。     

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.     

快点火与超强激光等离子体相互作用问题

“快点火”是近年来提出的激光聚变点火的一种新方式。它的特点是靶丸的压缩和点火分开进行：第一步由通常的多束激光对称辐照靶丸获得高密度;而后由单束超强激光（Iλ≈10^18-20Wum^2/cm^2)加热芯部实现点火。第传统的“热斑点火）比较,快点火在压缩方面具有很多优越性：大量节省驱动能量,降低了对驱动均匀性的要求,并且可以达到更高的能量增益。但是超强激光点火却涉及一些非常复杂的问题：在预压缩形成的等郭体中打洞（hole boring);在高密度燃料的边沿产生足够数量的高能量电子（MeV）,这些电子的传输加热等。文章简短地讨论了这些问题,并研究了几十kJ激光能量实现点火的可能性。     

激光等离子体中高能电子各向异性压强的粒子模拟

直接驱动惯性约束聚变(ICF)的实现需要对靶丸进行严格的对称压缩,以达到自持热核反应(点火)所需的条件.快点火方案的应用降低了对靶丸压缩对称性以及驱动能量的要求,但压缩及核反应过程中良好的靶丸对称性无疑有助于核反应增益的提高.本文研究了快点火方案中高能电子注入高密等离子体后导致的各向异性电子的压强张量.这一现象存在于ICF快点火方案中的高能电子束"点火"及核反应阶段.鉴于高能电子加热离子过程以及靶丸核反应自持燃烧过程的时间较长,高密靶核会由于超高的各向异性压强的作用破坏高密靶丸的对称性,降低核燃料密度,进而降低了核燃料燃烧效率以及核反应增益.     

Direct measurement of energetic electrons coupling to an imploding low-adiabat inertial confinement fusion capsule

We have imaged hard x-ray (>100 keV) bremsstrahlung emission from energetic electrons slowing in a plastic ablator shell during indirectly driven implosions at the National Ignition Facility. We measure 570 J in electrons with E>100 keV impinging on the fusion capsule under ignition drive conditions. This translates into an acceptable increase in the adiabat α, defined as the ratio of total deuterium-tritium fuel pressure to Fermi pressure, of 3.5%. The hard x-ray observables are consistent with detailed radiative-hydrodynamics simulations, including the sourcing and transport of these high energy electrons.     

Be靶丸的研制进展及其关键技术北大核心CSCD

可控核聚变反应是科学家用来解决能源缺乏和发展可持续能源的理想途径,为此美国开展了惯性约束聚变(ICF)研究,建设了国家点火装置(NIF),旨在实验室演示核聚变反应,为惯性约束聚变能(IFE)发展指明方向。制靶是NIF点火工程三大主体之一,如何制备满足设计需求的靶丸成为科学家不懈努力的追求目标。详细介绍了NIF工程中主要候选Be靶丸需求背景、研究现状、Be靶优势、靶参数设计要点、靶丸制备技术,以及制靶过程中存在的关键技术问题,为我国Be靶制备及制靶能力建设提供参考信息。     

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。     

激光聚变冲击波点火的热斑形成机制

通过对冲击波点火内爆过程的数值模拟分析点火热斑压缩及形成机制。分析了传统中心点火的内爆过程,热斑主要经历冲击波压缩和惯性压缩过程,点火主要通过惯性压缩来实现。并仔细分析了冲击波点火的内爆压缩过程,从内爆角度来看冲击波点火并不是压缩和点火分开的两步过程,点火冲击波实际参与压缩过程,点火冲击波对热斑的直接影响很有限,热斑仍然主要通过壳层的惯性压缩实现点火。利用惯性压缩的定标关系及冲击波碰撞对壳层影响规律分析了热斑增压的物理机制,冲击波点火是通过点火冲击波与回冲击波的碰撞来提高壳层的密度,从而实现热斑压力的提升。     

Evidence for stratification of deuterium-tritium fuel in inertial confinement fusion implosions

Measurements of the D(d,p)T (dd) and T(t,2n)(4)He (tt) reaction yields have been compared with those of the D(t,n)(4)He (dt) reaction yield, using deuterium-tritium gas-filled inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions. In these experiments, carried out on the OMEGA laser, absolute spectral measurements of dd protons and tt neutrons were obtained. From these measurements, it was concluded that the dd yield is anomalously low and the tt yield is anomalously high relative to the dt yield, an observation that we conjecture to be caused by a stratification of the fuel in the implosion core. This effect may be present in ignition experiments planned on the National Ignition Facility.     

Laser-optical path to nuclear energy without radioactivity: Fusion of hydrogen–boron by nonlinear force driven plasma blocks

Anomalous interaction of terawatt-picosecond laser pulses allows side-on ignition of solid state density fusion fuel with the unexpected possibility of igniting uncompressed hydrogen–boron p-¹¹B. Suppression of relativistic self-focusing by using very clean laser pulses with an extremely high contrast ratio is essential to achieve ignition thresholds only ten times more difficult than fusion of deuterium–tritium (DT). This opens the possibility for laser driven fusion energy without neutrons and less radioactivity than from burning coal. The complex nonlinear optical properties involved are elaborated.     

甚多束激光直接驱动靶面辐照均匀性研究

针对甚多束激光辐照下的直接驱动靶面光强均匀分布开展了系统研究. 利用球谐模分析选定了可实现均匀辐照的靶面弹着点极角分布, 并通过数值模拟确定了以等效48束激光直接驱动辐照下靶面三环弹着点极角位置分别为22.4°, 47.7°和73.6°. 基于特定装置构型分析了实现极向直接驱动时对各路激光指向的修正, 并对光束截面焦斑进行了优化, 实现了极向直接驱动下的靶面均匀辐照.     

Laser targets and experiments for the sake of science and energy in the 22nd century

Laser fusion for energy and hybride schemes with laser application are original and highly tempting because they are ecofriendly, with almost unlimited resources. Though quite challenging, even development stage is fruitful in hi-tech and provides vast fundamental knowledge. The present paper discusses important results concerning target fabrication detailing several finer points of view which may not appear obvious. The current status of and achievements in targets are provided and validation experiments are discussed. The prospects and the unexpected difficulties are presented. The comparable resources and cost (unlike sizes differing orders of magnitude) for the targets and for driver over the driver’s life cycle scale prove there is no time to waste with target technology findings and validation experiments, especially in view of ignition shortly expected with National Ignition Facility.     

Fast ignition of asymmetrically compressed targets for inertial confinement fusion

It is shown that fast ignition can ensure the combustion of asymmetrically compressed targets for inertial confinement fusion with an efficiency close to the combustion of one-dimensionally compressed targets. This statement is valid not only for targets specially designed for fast ignition. Fast heating by an external energy source can ensure the ignition of a target designed for spark ignition, but where this ignition does not occur because inhomogeneities are formed in the temperature and density distributions owing to the development of hydrodynamic instabilities. The condition for ignition is the fast heating of the plasma in the combustion initiation region whose size is comparable with the sizes of compression inhomogeneities. Thus, fast ignition not only significantly reduces the ignition energy, but also is possibly a necessary stage in the inertial confinement fusion scheme when the spherically symmetric compression of a target requires very high engineering and financial expenses. The studies are based on the numerical simulation of the compression and combustion of inertial confinement fusion targets with one- and two-dimensional hydrodynamic codes.     

入射激波诱导环氧丙烷爆炸特征研究

用自行设计激波管点火测试技术,实验研究了温度范围760-1380K间入射激波诱导下环氧丙烷的点火机理。利用激波管压力传感器测定了H*(486.1) 和O (470.5nm)随激波诱导强度变化的点火时间特征。实验结果表明：在低马赫数下氢氧自由基出现时间较接近,1.5-2.5马赫间随激波诱导强度增大而线性减小;而马赫大于2.5后,氧自由基的出现时间迅速减小,是由于高活化能的氧自由基的点火时间对强激波较敏感,而诱导强度大于3.5马赫后对两者点火影响区别就下明显了。实验数据将有益于含能材料点火时间的研究。     

Ignition-to-spread transition of externally heated electrical wire

Ignition of electrical wires by external heating is investigated in order to gain a better understanding of the initiation of electrical-wire fires. An ignition-to-spread model is developed to systematically explain ignition and the following transition to spread. The model predicts that for a higher-conductance wire it is more difficult to achieve ignition and the weak flame may extinguish during the transition phase because of a large conductive heat loss along the wire core. An experimental study was performed using several sample wires with different core metals, diameters and coating thicknesses of polyethylene. A coil heater was adopted as the ignition source, and both the heat flux and heating time were selected as the main parameters to identify the flashpoint and spread point of wire fires. Experiments show that additional heating times after flash are required in order to fully pass the transition and achieve a spreading flame, agreeing with model predictions. Finally, the effects of different heating lengths, environmental pressures, and oxygen concentration on wire ignition are discussed, which may be useful for upgrading the design and standards of future fire-safe wires.     

Spatio-temporal evolution of cavity ignition in supersonic flow

Successful ignition in the recirculating flow of a scramjet flame holder can be highly dependent upon the location of energy deposition because of the spatial variation of fuel concentration and flow properties. The current work experimentally investigated ignition processes when energy was deposited (～100 mJ) via a spark discharge at four locations in the base of a cavity or by laser-induced breakdown in a Mach 2 flow with a stagnation temperature and pressure of 590 K and 483 kPa, respectively. The cavity was directly fueled with ethylene injection. The time dependent heat release was imaged at 40,000 frames per second and fuel concentration and distribution measurements were taken in the cavity prior to ignition. The average fuel concentration at the lean and rich ignition limits near the energy deposition locations measured 4.4–9.3% (Φ= 0.75 to 1.47). Energy deposition near the cavity step resulted in near immediate ignition kernel development and rapid achievement of self-sustained flame propagation in the front of the cavity, often faster than the bulk recirculation time of the cavity, leading to a spike in heat release. Energy deposition away from the cavity step region led to competition between local flow velocity, fuel concentration, and flame propagation rates. Ignition kernels formed along the floor of the cavity towards the closeout ramp and were rapidly advected towards the cavity step region before flame propagation could ensue. The fastest and most robust ignition events for all fueling cases showed rapid spanwise flame propagation near the cavity step.     

入射激波诱导环氧丙烷爆炸特征研究

用自行设计激波管点火测试技术,实验研究了温度范围760-1380K间入射激波诱导下环氧丙烷的点火机理。利用激波管压力传感器测定了H*(486.1) 和O (470.5nm)随激波诱导强度变化的点火时间特征。实验结果表明：在低马赫数下氢氧自由基出现时间较接近,1.5-2.5马赫间随激波诱导强度增大而线性减小;而马赫大于2.5后,氧自由基的出现时间迅速减小,是由于高活化能的氧自由基的点火时间对强激波较敏感,而诱导强度大于3.5马赫后对两者点火影响区别就下明显了。实验数据将有益于含能材料点火时间的研究。     

多组份混合燃料滴着火规律的研究

1前言多组份燃料滴的着火研究有很重要的实际与理论意义。人们在实际中使用的传统液体燃料通常都是由多种分子结构、沸点等技术指标相差较大的组份混合而成的，另外，人们在实践中发现使用一些混合燃料如油一酒精，油一甲醇，重油一轻油以及油水乳化液等，可以改善蒸发过程，改善气相反应的化学特性。这就使得混合燃料具有改善内燃机工况及减少污染物排放的潜在优点。所以多组份燃料滴着火燃烧的研究更有意义。多种组份液滴的蒸发、着火比单组份液滴更为复杂，不同点主要集中在以下三个方面：（1）液滴内热量与组份的输运过程更为复杂；（2…