Abstract
The fiber-initiated High-Density Z-pinch (HDZP) is a novel concept in which fusion plasma could be produced by applying 2 MV along a thin filament of frozen deuterium, 20-30 μm in diameter and 5-10 cm long. The megamp-range currents that result would ohmically heat the fiber to fusion temperatures in 100 ns while maintaining nearly constant radius. The plasma pressure would be held stable by the self-magnetic field for many radial sound transit times during the current-rise phase while, in the case of D-T, a significant fraction of the fiber undergoes thermonuclear fusion. The authors present results of Los Alamos HDZP studies.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1988. Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference Held by the International Atomic Energy Agency, |
Place of Publication | Vienna, Austria |
Pages | 557 - 63 |
State | Published - 1988 |
Keywords
- deuterium
- fusion reactor fuel
- fusion reactor ignition
- pinch effect
- plasma confinement
- plasma heating
- tritium