A high-pinning-Type-II superconducting maglev for ICF target delivery: main principles, material options and demonstration models

Abstract

Nowadays, the IFE researches related to noncontact positioning and transport of the free-standing cryogenic targets are playing an increasingly important role in this field. The operational principle behind these technologies is the magnetic acceleration of the levitating target carrier (or sabot) made from Type-II, high-temperature superconductors (HTSC). The physics of interaction between levitation, guidance and propulsion systems is based on a quantum levitation of high-pinning HTSCs in the mutually-normal magnetic fields. The paper discusses current target delivery strategies and future perspectives to create different permanent magnet guideway (PMG) systems for IFE target transport with levitation. Particularly, several PMG building options for optimizing both suspension and levitation of IFE targets using an HTSC-sabot will be analyzed. Credible solutions have been demonstrated for both linear and/or round PMGs, including ones with a cyclotron acceleration process to realize high-running velocities of the HTSC-sabot for a limited magnetic track. Focusing on physics, we describe in detail the main aspects of the PMGs building and the results obtained from computations and prove of principle (POP) experiments. High-pinning HTSC magnetic levitation (maglev) promises a stable and self-controlled levitation to accelerate the IFE targets placed in the HTSC-sabots up to the required injection velocities 200 m/s and beyond.

Experimental HTSC-MAGLEV System and Efficiency Evaluation of a Noncontact Acceleration of IFE Target Placed in a Levitating Carrier

“…When moving in a circle, the HTSC-sabot interacts with the PMG field (parameters in Figure 5), creating a force Fx to balance the centrifugal force Fc = mv 2 /R, where m is the sabot mass, v is its velocity, R is the radius of the circular trajectory. Using formula (1) and the results obtained in [6], the mechanical equilibrium equation of the HTSC-sabot running stably over the circular PMG can be written as:…”

“…Researches in this area carried out at the Lebedev Physical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI) are based on the effect of quantum levitation of HTSCs in a magnetic field (Figure 1a). Main principles, material options and demonstration models for a noncontact acceleration of IFE targets using HTSC-MAGLEV sys-tems are discussed in detail in [6]. A special emphasis was paid to creation of different PMG systems (or magnetic tracks), linear or circular ones.…”

“…At the moment, the LPI is successfully conducting researches on creation of the HTSC-MAGLEV systems for operation not only in the linear acceleration schemes, but also in different curvedline limited PMG-systems for realizing a cyclotron acceleration method [6]. This is very promising for reducing the size of the accelerator, as well as the number of the field coils to 2−4 pieces.…”

Estimation of the FST-Layering Time for Shock Ignition ICF Targets

“…This is due to the fact that: ⎯ The FST-layering method works with free-standing and line-moving targets. A specific future here is the possibility to build a prototype of the FST-layering module, which must be integrated in an FST-production line operating in high-repetition-rate conditions [3,4]. In [13], the key elements of the FST-production line and their functional description are given in detail.…”

“…The FST-layering method works with free-standing (or unmounted) and line-moving targets and allows one to fabricate large quantities of such targets and continuously inject them at the laser focus [3]. The FST-layering method is highly compatible with a new approach to the target delivery system based on noncontact target transport with levitation [4] which is a necessary condition for high-repetition-rate laser facilities. Below, we evaluate the prospects of the FST-layering method for in-line production of the SI-targets.…”