Progress on Z-pinch Inertial Fusion Energy

The long-range goal of the Z-pinch IFE program is to produce an economically-attractive power plant using high-yield Z-pinch-driven targets (~3 GJ) with low rep-rate per chamber (~0.1 Hz). He present mainline choice for a Z-pinch IFE power plant uses an LTD (Linear Transformer Driver) repetitive pulsed power driver, a Recyclable Transmission Line (RTL), a dynamic hohlraum Z-pinch-driven target, and a thick-liquid wall chamber. The RTL connects the pulsed power driver directly to the Z-pinch-driven target, and is made from frozen coolant or a material that is easily separable from the coolant (such as low activation ferritic steel). The RTL is destroyed by the fusion explosion, but the RTL materials are recycled, and a new RTL is inserted on each shot. The RTL concept eliminates the problems of a final optic, high-speed target injection, and pointing and tracking N beams (N~100). Instead, the RTL concept must be shown to be feasible and economically attractive. Results of Z-pinch IFE studies over the last three years are discussed, including RTL experiments at the 10 MA level on Saturn, RTL structural studies, RTL manufacturing/cost studies, RTL activation analysis, power plant studies, high-yield IFE target studies, etc. Recent funding by a U.S. Congressional initiative of $4M for FY04 is supporting research on (1) RTLs, (2) repetitive pulsed power drivers, (3) shock mitigation [because of the high yield targets], (4) planning for a proof-of-principle full RTL cycle demonstration [with a 1 MA, 1 MV, 100 ns, 0.1 Hz driver], (5) IFE target studies for multi-GJ yield targets, and (6) Z-pinch IFE power plant engineering and technology development.