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Experimental measurements on FuZE-Q and scaling of sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinches at Zap Energy

POSTER

Abstract

Zap Energy is actively developing the sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch concept for fusion energy applications with its currently operational FuZE-Q device. Sheared-flow stabilization offers a pathway toward long duration (~ 100 microseconds) Z-pinch plasmas that are stable to the m = 0 ‘sausage’ and m = 1 ‘kink’ MHD modes characteristic of static configurations. Sheared-flow stabilization provides for a more attractive trajectory towards a commercial Z-pinch fusion energy system by avoiding the need to embed an axial magnetic field with external coils or employ a close-fitting conducting wall around the plasma column. An experimental suite of diagnostics has been deployed on FuZE-Q, a next-generation SFS Z-pinch device designed to produce deuterium plasma conditions consistent with deuterium-tritium (DT) scientific breakeven Q = 1 (i.e., DD net-equivalent).These diagnostics include magnetic probes and current Rogowski coils, spectroscopic systems (e.g., broadband visible, ion Doppler, extreme ultraviolet (EUV), optical Thomson scattering (OTS), 633 nm and digital holographic interferometry (DHI), high-speed cameras, neutronics (e.g. plastic scintillators and LaBr3 activation detectors), X-ray detectors, among others. Experimental results from the operational FuZE-Q device will be presented from various diagnostic systems. The methodology for the calculation and measurement of scientific gain in a SFS Z-pinch with fielded diagnostics will be provided, including the SFS Z-pinch Plasma OPerating Contour (POPCon) and assessing the impact of impurities and profile effects on scaling to scientific breakeven.

Publication: U. Shumlak, E.T. Meier, B.J. Levitt, Fus. Sci. Tech. (2023), https://doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2023.2198049

Presenters

  • Derek A Sutherland

    Zap Energy, Zap Energy, Inc.

Authors

  • Derek A Sutherland

    Zap Energy, Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Benjamin J Levitt

    Zap Energy Inc.

  • Brian A Nelson

    Zap Energy Inc.

  • Uri Shumlak

    University of Washington, Professor, University of Washington

  • Eric T Meier

    Zap Energy Inc.

  • Chelsea E Liekhus-Schmaltz

    Zap Energy, Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Lucas Morton

    Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Andrew S Taylor

    Zap Energy Inc., Zap Energy

  • Nolan van Rossum

    Zap Energy, Inc., Zap Energy

  • Anton D Stepanov

    Zap Energy Inc

  • Aria R Johansen

    Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Pi-En Tsai

    Zap Energy, Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Rachel A Ryan

    Zap Energy, Zap Energy, Inc.

  • William C Young

    Zap Energy, Inc., Zap Energy

  • Akash P Shah

    Zap Energy, Inc., Zap Energy

  • Aaron C Hossack

    Zap Energy, Inc., Zap Energy

  • Kyle D Morgan

    Zap Energy, Zap Energy Inc., Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Morgan Quinley

    Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Ralph Kube

    Zap Energy, Inc.

  • Glen A Wurden

    Los Alamos Natlonal Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM, USA

  • Jacob T Banasek

    Sandia National Laboratories, University of California San Diego

  • Simon C Bott-Suzuki

    University of California, San Diego

  • Clement S Goyon

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Aidan W Klemmer

    University of Nevada, Reno

  • Stephan Fuelling

    University of Nevada, Reno

  • Bruno Bauer

    University of Nevada, Reno