Ten hertz bead pellet injection and laser engagement. (3rd February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mori, Y.; Ishii, K.; Hanayama, R.; Okihara, S.; Kitagawa, Y.; Nishimura, Y.; Komeda, O.; Hioki, T.; Motohiro, T.; Sunahara, A.; Sentoku, Y.; Iwamoto, A.; Sakagami, H.; Miura, E.; Johzaki, T.
• Is Part Of: Nuclear fusion. Volume 62:Number 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02-03
• Subjects: inertial fusion energy -- pellet injection -- high-repetition laser -- laser engagement; Nuclear fusion -- Periodicals; 621.48405
• DOI: 10.1088/1741-4326/ac3d69
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-5515

Abstract

Abstract: A laser inertial fusion energy (IFE) reactor requires repetitive injection of fuel pellets and laser engagement to fuse fusion fuel beyond a few Hz. We demonstrate 10 Hz free-fall bead pellet injection and laser engagement with γ-ray generation. Deuterated polystyrene beads with a diameter of 1 mm were engaged by counter illuminating ultra-intense laser pulses with an intensity of 5 × 10 17 W cm −2 at 10 Hz. The spatial distribution of free-fall beads was 0.86 mm in the horizontal direction and 0.18 mm in the vertical direction. The system operated for more than 5 min and 3500 beads were supplied with achieved frequencies of 2.1 Hz for illumination on the beads and 0.7 Hz for γ-ray generation; these frequencies were three times greater than with the previous 1 Hz injection system. The duration of operation was limited by the pellet supply. This injection and engagement system could be used for laser IFE research platforms.