Abstract:
Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) is one of the possible configurations to reach ignition. For future ignition validation, it is necessary to explore key issues of MagLIF and seek an optimal design of integrated MaglIF experiments on the low current generators. In this paper, a simplified circuit model is coupled to the semi-analytical model developed by McBride
et al. to investigate key issues of integrated MagLIF experiments possibly conducted on the 7−8 MA facility in China, and parameter domain to attain over 10
10 neutron yield is explored. Theoretical results show that many factors together determine the final neutron yield, such as the 7−8 MA current, the liner material, the initial radius and density of D
2 fuel, the load height, the preheating energy, the applied axial magnetic field, as well as the fuel mixing. As the preheating energy is increased, the fuel temperature before implosion and at stagnation becomes higher, thus generating higher neutron output. The neutron yield will increase first and then decrease with the applied axial magnetic field, mainly caused by the compromise of reducing the conduction loss and decreasing the fuel convergence. When the mass ratio of impurity is higher than 10%, the neutron yield will be decreased remarkably. If an initial fuel density of 0.7 mg/cm
3, an axial magnetic field of 27 T, and a preheating energy of 200 J in the case of 7−8 MA are used, 3.5×10
10 neutrons can be produced with the convergence lower than 20 considering 50% fuel mixing. It is thus anticipated that the research platform on key physics of MagLIF can be developed in the case of 7−8 MA drive current.