Simultaneous Ultra-Fast Imaging and Neutron Emission from a Compact Dense Plasma Focus Fusion Device
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Operational Characteristics of the Stabilized Toroidal Pinch Machine, Perhapsatron S-4
P/2488 USA Operational Characteristics of the Stabilized Toroidal Pinch Machine, Perhapsatron S-4 By J. P. Conner, D. C. H age r m an, J. L. Honsaker, H. J. Karr, J. P. Mize, J. E. Osher, J. A. Phillips and E. J. Stovall Jr. Several investigators1"6 have reported initial success largely inductance-limited and not resistance-limited in stabilizing a pinched discharge through the utiliza- as observed in PS-3. After gas breakdown about 80% tion of an axial Bz magnetic field and conducting of the condenser voltage appears around the secondary, walls, and theoretical work,7"11 with simplifying in agreement with the ratio of source and load induct- assumptions, predicts stabilization under these con- ances. The rate of increase of gas current is at first ditions. At Los Alamos this approach has been large, ~1.3xlOn amp/sec, until the gas current examined in linear (Columbus) and toroidal (Per- contracts to cause an increase in inductance, at which hapsatron) geometries. time the gas current is a good approximation to a sine Perhapsatron S-3 (PS-3), described elsewhere,4 was curve. The gas current maximum is found to rise found to be resistance-limited in that the discharge linearly with primary voltage (Fig. 3), deviating as current did not increase significantly for primary expected at the higher voltages because of saturation vçltages over 12 kv (120 volts/cm). The minor inside of the iron core. diameter of this machine was small, 5.3 cm, and the At the discharge current maximum, the secondary onset of impurity light from wall material in the voltage is not zero, and if one assumes that there is discharge occurred early in the gas current cycle. -
1 Looking Back at Half a Century of Fusion Research Association Euratom-CEA, Centre De
Looking Back at Half a Century of Fusion Research P. STOTT Association Euratom-CEA, Centre de Cadarache, 13108 Saint Paul lez Durance, France. This article gives a short overview of the origins of nuclear fusion and of its development as a potential source of terrestrial energy. 1 Introduction A hundred years ago, at the dawn of the twentieth century, physicists did not understand the source of the Sun‘s energy. Although classical physics had made major advances during the nineteenth century and many people thought that there was little of the physical sciences left to be discovered, they could not explain how the Sun could continue to radiate energy, apparently indefinitely. The law of energy conservation required that there must be an internal energy source equal to that radiated from the Sun‘s surface but the only substantial sources of energy known at that time were wood or coal. The mass of the Sun and the rate at which it radiated energy were known and it was easy to show that if the Sun had started off as a solid lump of coal it would have burnt out in a few thousand years. It was clear that this was much too shortœœthe Sun had to be older than the Earth and, although there was much controversy about the age of the Earth, it was clear that it had to be older than a few thousand years. The realization that the source of energy in the Sun and stars is due to nuclear fusion followed three main steps in the development of science. -
UC San Diego Center for Energy Research, Lppfusion to Collaborate on Fusion Energy Research
Focus Fusion Report October 17, 2017 Summary: • UC San Diego CER to Collaborate • Two More DPF Groups Aim to Use pB11 in 2018 • IEEE Spectrum Reports on LPPFusion • Former Fusion Chief Advocates pB11 in Physics Today UC San Diego Center for Energy Research, LPPFusion to Collaborate on Fusion Energy Research The ideal energy source is the goal of a new collaboration between the Center for Energy Research (CER) at UC San Diego and LPPFusion, Inc. The collaboration, formalized with an agreement on October 2, aims at the development of the dense plasma focus (DPF) device for fusion energy. “The alternate fusion schemes offer a potential route to fusion energy that could be faster and much cheaper than other approaches," explains CER Director, Farhat N. Beg. “LPPFusion is a leader in this field and will make available to CER its research data and expertise to help us set up our own DPF facility at UC San Diego.” LPPFusion’s FF-1 device is one of only a few mega-ampere DPFs in the world. Our research in the coming year will involve the first experiments using hydrogen-boron fuel. This fuel produces energy in the form of charged particles only, not neutrons, which both eliminates radioactive waste and makes possible inexpensive direct conversion of energy to electricity. “The collaboration with the Center for Energy Research will help us to better analyze and understand our data,” said LPPFusion President and Chief Scientist Eric J. Lerner. “Their expertise in plasma simulation will aid our efforts in modeling our experiments. We also expect that, once their own DPF is functioning, we can perform joint experiments that will help demonstrate how the DPF energy output scales with energy input. -
Revamping Fusion Research Robert L. Hirsch
Revamping Fusion Research Robert L. Hirsch Journal of Fusion Energy ISSN 0164-0313 Volume 35 Number 2 J Fusion Energ (2016) 35:135-141 DOI 10.1007/s10894-015-0053-y 1 23 Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer Science +Business Media New York. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be self- archived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com”. 1 23 Author's personal copy J Fusion Energ (2016) 35:135–141 DOI 10.1007/s10894-015-0053-y POLICY Revamping Fusion Research Robert L. Hirsch1 Published online: 28 January 2016 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016 Abstract A fundamental revamping of magnetic plasma Introduction fusion research is needed, because the current focus of world fusion research—the ITER-tokamak concept—is A practical fusion power system must be economical, virtually certain to be a commercial failure. Towards that publically acceptable, and as simple as possible from a end, a number of technological considerations are descri- regulatory standpoint. In a preceding paper [1] the ITER- bed, believed important to successful fusion research. -
Sixty Years on from ZETA …
Sixty years on from ZETA … Chris Warrick The Sun … What is powering it? Coal? Lifetime 3,000 years Gravitational Energy? Lifetime 30 million years – Herman Von Helmholtz, Lord Kelvin - mid 1800s The Sun … Suggested the Earth is at least 300 million years old – confirmed by geologists studying rock formations … The Sun … Albert Einstein (Theory of Special Relativity) and Becquerel / Curie’s work on radioactivity – suggested radioactive decay may be the answer … But the Sun comprises hydrogen … The Sun … Arthur Eddington proposed that fusion of hydrogen to make helium must be powering the Sun “If, indeed, the subatomic energy is being freely used to maintain their great furnaces, it seems to bring a little nearer to fulfilment our dream of controlling this latent power for the well-being of the human race – or for its suicide” Cambridge – 1930s Cockcroft Walton accelerator, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. But huge energy losses and low collisionality Ernest Rutherford : “The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing . Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine.” Oxford – 1940s Peter Thonemann – Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford. ‘Pinch’ experiment in glass, then copper tori. First real experiments in sustaining plasma and magnetically controlling them. Imperial College – 1940s George Thomson / Alan Ware – Imperial College London then Aldermaston. Also pinch experiments, but instabilities started to be observed – especially the rapidly growing kink instability. AERE Harwell Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) Harwell – Hangar 7 picked up fusion research. Fusion is now classified. Kurchatov visit 1956 ZETA ZETA Zero Energy Thermonuclear Apparatus Pinch experiment – but with added toroidal field to help with instabilities and pulsed DC power supplies. -
How to Build a Small Plasma Focus - Recipes and Tricks
2370-12 School and Training Course on Dense Magnetized Plasma as a Source of Ionizing Radiations, their Diagnostics and Applications 8 - 12 October 2012 How to build a small Plasma Focus - Recipes and tricks Leopoldo Soto Comision Chilena de Energia Nuclear Casilla 188-D, Santiago Chile Center for Research and Applications in Plasma Physics and Pulsed Power, P4 Chile How to build a small Plasma Focus Recipes and tricks Leopoldo Soto Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear Casilla 188-D, Santiago, Chile and Center for Research and Applications in Plasma Physics and Pulsed Power, P4, Chile [email protected] School and Training on Dense Magnetized Plasmas L. Soto, Thermonuclear Plasma Department ICTP, Trieste, Italy, 8-12 October, 2012 Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission To build a plasma focus it is necessary to defin the followings parameters: - Energy ? - Capacitor, C? - Voltage operation, V0? - Inductance, L? - Current peak, I0 ? - Anode radius, a? - Effective anode length (over the insulator), z? - Operational pressure, p? - Insulator length, lins ? - Cathode radius, b? School and Training on Dense Magnetized Plasmas L. Soto, Thermonuclear Plasma Department ICTP, Trieste, Italy, 8-12 October, 2012 Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission Why and for what a small PF? To do plasma research To study plasma dynamics and intabilities To study the X-ray emmited To study the neutrons emmited To study plasma jets … School and Training on Dense Magnetized Plasmas L. Soto, Thermonuclear Plasma Department ICTP, Trieste, Italy, 8-12 October, 2012 Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission Why and for what a small PF? To develop a non radioactive source To do flash radiography and non destructive testing To do litography To develop a portable non-radiactive source of neutrons for field applications … To teach experimental plasma physics and nuclear techniques, to train students School and Training on Dense Magnetized Plasmas L. -
Stellarator Research Opportunities
Stellarator Research Opportunities A report of the National Stellarator Coordinating Committee [1] This document is the product of a stellarator community workshop, organized by the National Stellarator Coordinating Committee and referred to as Stellcon, that was held in Cambridge, Massachusetts in February 2016, hosted by MIT. The workshop was widely advertised, and was attended by 40 scientists from 12 different institutions including national labs, universities and private industry, as well as a representative from the Department of Energy. The final section of this document describes areas of community wide consensus that were developed as a result of the discussions held at that workshop. Areas where further study would be helpful to generate a consensus path forward for the US stellarator program are also discussed. The program outlined in this document is directly responsive to many of the strategic priorities of FES as articulated in “Fusion Energy Sciences: A Ten-Year Perspective (2015-2025)” [2]. The natural disruption immunity of the stellarator directly addresses “Elimination of transient events that can be deleterious to toroidal fusion plasma confinement devices” an area of critical importance for the U.S. fusion energy sciences enterprise over the next decade. Another critical area of research “Strengthening our partnerships with international research facilities,” is being significantly advanced on the W7-X stellarator in Germany and serves as a test-bed for development of successful international collaboration on ITER. This report also outlines how materials science as it relates to plasma and fusion sciences, another critical research area, can be carried out effectively in a stellarator. Additionally, significant advances along two of the Research Directions outlined in the report; “Burning Plasma Science: Foundations - Next-generation research capabilities”, and “Burning Plasma Science: Long pulse - Sustainment of Long-Pulse Plasma Equilibria” are proposed. -
Polywell Fusion
Polywell Fusion JAEYOUNG PARK ENERGY MATTER CONVERSION CORPORATION ENN FUSION SYMPOSIUM, APRIL 20 2018 History of EMC2 1985 Energy Matter Conversion Corporation is a US-incorporated, San Diego-based company developing nuclear fusion • 1985: EMC2 founded by the late Dr. Robert Bussard • Polywell technology is based on high pressure magnetic confinement of plasma called the “Wiffle-Ball” and plasma heating with an electrostatic potential well by e-beams • 1992 – 1995: First Polywell device was built with DARPA funding. Successfully demonstrated electrostatic potential well using electron beams. 1995-2013 • 1995 -2013: EMC2 continued R&D efforts utilizing a series of 19 2013 test Polywell devices to demonstrate and examine Wiffle-Ball (WB) plasma confinement backed by the US Navy. • 2013: Successful formation of WB and demonstration of enhanced confinement. • 2014-2017: EMC2 filed two patents, published a peer-reviewed paper, and provided public disclosures of the Polywell technology. 2017 • 2017: EMC2 developed computer code to validate and began optimizing the Polywell technology. 2 Energy Matter Conversion Corporation Conversion Matter Energy EMC2 San Diego Laboratory 3 Energy Matter Conversion Corporation Conversion Matter Energy EMC2 Teams and Collaborations m-wave & laser KU Leuven Power Systems, Magnets Reactor Engineering, Neutral beam injector diagnostics plasma sources 4 Energy Matter Conversion Corporation Conversion Matter Energy Plasma Simulation Particle Diagnostics Neutronics & Modeling Why EMC2 Pursues Polywell Fusion? Lawson Criteria for Polywell Additional Metrics Critical to n* t * T Fusion Energy - High density using stable magnetic - Plasma stability: uncontrolled cusp trap: 10n compared to plasma behaviors degrade reactor tokamak (5x1020 m-3) performance and damage reactor - Sufficient confinement using Wiffle- - Efficient fuel heating allows 2nd Ball (i.e. -
Focus Fusion: Transformative Energy Technology
Focus Fusion: Transformative Energy Technology Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc. Derek Shannon | [email protected] | http://LPPhysics.com Focus Fusion: Transformative Energy Technology Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc. Derek Shannon| [email protected] | http://LPPhysics.com Investor Highlights • Market: Baseload electric generation – Valuable spin-offs in NDI, medical isotopes • Best results with most capital efficient tech – $2M+ into facility opened 2009, record fusion yields • Closest to game-changing breakthrough – <$2M, this year, straightforward engineering • Proven team – 50+ years biz/tech experience, with unique expertise • US/Oz patent issued, worldwide pending • Strong shareholder’s agreement, traction – 40 private investors, with Abell Foundation • Exit: IPO or buy back upon commercialization Competition illustrates key advantages for LPP TriAlpha, Polywell, LPP Aneutronic fusion Nat’l Ignition Facility, Iter, General Fusion D-T fusion B&W mPower, NuScale, Terrapower, Areva Fission Aneutronic: No neutrons → No $$$ turbines • Direct conversion to electricity • Large reduction in costs • Abundant fuel: – Hydrogen and Boron Safe, nothing to run away NO radioactive waste Worth a try, goshdarnit! What is Focus Fusion? Controlled Nuclear Fusion using Dense Plasma Focus + Hydrogen-Boron (Aneutronic) Fuel But is Focus Fusion HOT? Yes, A patented, low-cost approach… …backed by peer-reviewed research This beam means business Meet Focus Fusion – 1 • 12 capacitor bank • Stored energy – 115 kJ • Capacitor potential – 45 kV • Goal -
Compact Fusion Reactors
Compact fusion reactors Tomas Lind´en Helsinki Institute of Physics 26.03.2015 Fusion research is currently to a large extent focused on tokamak (ITER) and inertial confinement (NIF) research. In addition to these large international or national efforts there are private companies performing fusion research using much smaller devices than ITER or NIF. The attempt to achieve fusion energy production through relatively small and compact devices compared to tokamaks decreases the costs and building time of the reactors and this has allowed some private companies to enter the field, like EMC2, General Fusion, Helion Energy, Lockheed Martin and LPP Fusion. Some of these companies are trying to demonstrate net energy production within the next few years. If they are successful their next step is to attempt to commercialize their technology. In this presentation an overview of compact fusion reactor concepts is given. CERN Colloquium 26th of March 2015 Tomas Lind´en (HIP) Compact fusion reactors 26.03.2015 1 / 37 Contents Contents 1 Introduction 2 Funding of fusion research 3 Basics of fusion 4 The Polywell reactor 5 Lockheed Martin CFR 6 Dense plasma focus 7 MTF 8 Other fusion concepts or companies 9 Summary Tomas Lind´en (HIP) Compact fusion reactors 26.03.2015 2 / 37 Introduction Introduction Climate disruption ! ! Pollution ! ! ! Extinctions Ecosystem Transformation Population growth and consumption There is no silver bullet to solve these issues, but energy production is "#$%&'$($#!)*&+%&+,+!*&!! central to many of these issues. -.$&'.$&$&/!0,1.&$'23+! Economically practical fusion power 4$(%!",55*6'!"2+'%1+!$&! could contribute significantly to meet +' '7%!89 !)%&',62! the future increased energy :&(*61.'$*&!(*6!;*<$#2!-.=%6+! production demands in a sustainable way. -
Signature Redacted %
EXAMINATION OF THE UNITED STATES DOMESTIC FUSION PROGRAM ARCHW.$ By MASS ACHUSETTS INSTITUTE Lauren A. Merriman I OF IECHNOLOLGY MAY U6 2015 SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING I LIBR ARIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY FEBRUARY 2015 Lauren A. Merriman. All Rights Reserved. - The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly Paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part. Signature of Author:_ Signature redacted %. Lauren A. Merriman Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering May 22, 2014 Signature redacted Certified by:. Dennis Whyte Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering I'l f 'A Thesis Supervisor Signature redacted Accepted by: Richard K. Lester Professor and Head of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering 1 EXAMINATION OF THE UNITED STATES DOMESTIC FUSION PROGRAM By Lauren A. Merriman Submitted to the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering on May 22, 2014 In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering ABSTRACT Fusion has been "forty years away", that is, forty years to implementation, ever since the idea of harnessing energy from a fusion reactor was conceived in the 1950s. In reality, however, it has yet to become a viable energy source. Fusion's promise and failure are both investigated by reviewing the history of the United States domestic fusion program and comparing technological forecasting by fusion scientists, fusion program budget plans, and fusion program budget history. -
Frontiers in Commercializing Fusion Development: the New Landscape of Companies Investing in Fusion Worldwide
PrincetonFUSION SYSTEMS Frontiers in Commercializing Fusion Development: The New Landscape of Companies Investing in Fusion Worldwide Dr. Octopus confronts a plasma instability in Artist’s rendering of the SPARC the film Spider-Man 2 (2004) experiment, Commonwealth Fusion Systems Talk Scope Introduction to thermonuclear fusion Why now? Models, hardware, economy, and new government programs Overview of existing fusion research efforts, including a dozen private companies Cutting through the hype: what to expect in the future PrincetonFUSION 2 SYSTEMS 2/13/20 Introduction to Thermonuclear Fusion Fusion is the process of combining small atomic nuclei (hydrogen) into large atomic nuclei (helium). This releases energy. Fusion is the opposite of fission, in which large atomic nuclei (uranium) split into small atomic nuclei. This releases energy. Fusion occurs naturally in the core of stars. Our very own sun is powered by fusion. The sun has a big advantage: 250 billion atmospheres of pressure. We may never match this parameter. The sun is powered by natural Our advantages: We can make material nuclear fusion. Credit: NASA/SDO hotter (200 million K vs 10 million K) and we can use a more reactive (x1020!) fuel (heavy hydrogen isotopes) PrincetonFUSION 3 SYSTEMS 2/13/20 Why does fusion require plasma? At fusion temperatures (100 million degrees), no matter exists in solid, liquid, or gas phases. All matter exists as plasma, which is like an electrically conductive gas. This is good for us, because plasma can be confined with large magnets to keep the heat from leaking out and cooling the plasma This plasma is confined magnetically The trick of artificial fusion, what has in the PFRC-2 experiment at PPPL made it so elusive, is keeping the plasma hot.