Publications Details

Enhancing performance of magnetized liner inertial fusion at the Z facility

Slutz, Stephen A.; Gomez, Matthew R.; Hansen, Stephanie B.; Harding, Eric H.; Hutsel, Brian T.; Knapp, P.F.; Lamppa, Derek C.; Awe, Thomas J.; Ampleford, David J.; Bliss, David E.; Chandler, Gordon A.; Cuneo, Michael E.; Geissel, Matthias; Glinsky, Michael E.; Hahn, Kelly D.; Harvey-Thompson, Adam J.; Hess, Mark H.; Jennings, Christopher A.; Jones, Brent M.; Laity, George R.; Martin, Matthew R.; Peterson, K.J.; Porter, John L.; Rambo, Patrick K.; Rochau, G.A.; Rovang, Dean C.; Ruiz, Carlos L.; Savage, Mark E.; Schwarz, Jens; Schmit, Paul; Shipley, Gabriel A.; Sinars, Daniel; Smith, Ian C.; Stygar, William; Vesey, Roger A.; Weis, Matthew R.

The Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion concept (MagLIF) [Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)] is being studied on the Z facility at Sandia National Laboratories. Neutron yields greater than 1012 have been achieved with a drive current in the range of 17-18 MA and pure deuterium fuel [Gomez et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 155003 (2014)]. We show that 2D simulated yields are about twice the best yields obtained on Z and that a likely cause of this difference is the mix of material into the fuel. Mitigation strategies are presented. Previous numerical studies indicate that much larger yields (10-1000 MJ) should be possible with pulsed power machines producing larger drive currents (45-60 MA) than can be produced by the Z machine [Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 022702 (2016)]. To test the accuracy of these 2D simulations, we present modifications to MagLIF experiments using the existing Z facility, for which 2D simulations predict a 100-fold enhancement of MagLIF fusion yields and considerable increases in burn temperatures. Experimental verification of these predictions would increase the credibility of predictions at higher drive currents.