Currently, research fields related to the elaboration of efficient layering methods for ICF/IFE applications are rapidly expanding. Significant progress has been made in the technology development based on rapid fuel layering inside moving free-standing targets (FST) which is referred to as the FST layering method. This paper presents our new results obtained in this area and describes technologically elegant solutions towards demonstrating a credible pathway for mass production of IFE cryogenic targets.

The paper presents the results of mathematical and experimental modeling of in-line production of inertial fusion energy (IFE) targets of a reactor-scaled design. The technical approach is the free-standing target (FST) layering method in line-moving spherical shells. This includes each step of the fabrication and injection processes in the FST transmission line (FST-TL) considered as a potential solution of the problem of mass target manufacturing. Finely, we discuss the development strategy of the FST-TL creation seeking to develop commercial power production based on laser IFE.

Realization of fusion energy imposes considerable challenges in the areas of producing cryogenic targets with an isotropic fuel structure and developing noncontact target delivery means. It was shown that the FST-layering method using high cooling rates (1–50 K s−1) and high-melting additives to fuel content (0.3%–25%) makes solid layers isotropic and free of local defects. FST-layering in line-moving shells is usually realized in a vertical single-spiral layering channel. Here we present our first results with a double-spiral layering channel (DS-LC). The cryogenic layers (D2 + 20% Ne) were formed in 5 shells (2R ∼ 1.8 mm) during their rolling in the DS-LC, and then they were gravitationally injected to the test chamber at T = 5 K. The obtained isotropic layers (W ∼ 87 μm) are stable in the temperature range from 5 K to T tp = 18.7 K of D2. The total layering time <20 s. Another critical issue is the noncontact target delivery. It is shown that using transport of high-temperature superconductors in the magnetic fields provides stable noncontact target acceleration placed in a superconducting sabot. The proof-of-principle experiments have shown that using only 1 field coil allows one to accelerate such sabot up to 1 m s−1. Computationally, it has been shown that acceleration up to a velocity of 200 m s−1 will require about 200 field coils (0.25 T each) along the 5 m-length of the linear accelerator with overloads a = 400 g; the velocity of 400 m s−1 will require the acceleration length of 20 m at the same a = 400 g. First steps are made to reduce the dimensions of the linear accelerator using a cyclic permanent magnet guideway with less than 10 field coils to achieve target injection velocities in the range of V inj = 200–400 m s−1.

No abstract

No abstract