Computer Simulation of Multiple-Beam Final Focusing Systems for Heavy Ion Fusion

Heavy Ion Fusion ignition systems which employ multiple beams to achieve the required ignition energies on a target offer a number of advantages over systems with a small number of beams. In addition to the higher phase space densities which can be transported, the use of multiple lenses reduces the chromatic and geometric aberrations in the final focusing system. Computer simulations are described here which show that, at least for a modest number of beams, the transverse space charge interaction between adjacent beams does not appear to cause significant final spot aberrations for parameters consistent with pellet ignition requirements.