Title :
Dense plasma focus for D-3He burning
Author :
Choi, C.K. ; Cox, L.T. ; Nakafuji, G.T.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Nucl. Eng., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN, USA
fDate :
30 Sep-5 Oct 1995
Abstract :
Studies have been performed to determine the feasibility of D-3He burning in dense plasma focus (DPF) device as a possible propulsion system for space. A large potential difference between the DPF electrodes ionizes the gaseous fusion fuel and forms on annular plasma sheath. The “run-down” phase and the subsequent stability are analyzed by solving the momentum equation using the snowplow model and the cylindrical m=0 mode. It is found that the results of the pinch equilibrium profiles agree with the assumed current-squared scaling of energy density, and that the total fusion power released from the pinch scales as plasma current, Ip 5.4. This is found to correlate well with the reaction rate parameter data for the utilized fuel of D-3He
Keywords :
Z pinch; deuterium; fusion reactor theory; fusion reactors; helium; plasma focus; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; rocket engines; D; D3He burning; DPF electrodes; He; annular plasma sheath; current-squared scaling; cylindrical m=0 mode; dense plasma focus; energy density; gaseous fusion fuel; momentum equation; pinch equilibrium profiles; propulsion system; reaction rate parameter data; run-down phase; snowplough model; snowplow model; total fusion power; Electrodes; Equations; Fuels; Helium; Plasma density; Plasma devices; Plasma sheaths; Plasma stability; Propulsion; Stability analysis;
Conference_Titel :
Fusion Engineering, 1995. SOFE '95. Seeking a New Energy Era., 16th IEEE/NPSS Symposium
Conference_Location :
Champaign, IL
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2969-4
DOI :
10.1109/FUSION.1995.534453
