A parameter study on the yield sensitivity of Nernst advection, aspect ratio, and MRTI for a 60 MA driven MagLIF platform
ORAL
Abstract
Pacific Fusion is building a Demonstration System to achieve facility gain with a 60 MA pulsed power driver.1
The burn performance of magnetically-driven ICF targets that will be used, such as MagLIF, are sensitive to a wide parameter space warranting a systematic study.
These parameters are the axial field strength, preheat timing, the aspect ratio of the liner, among others.
The goal is to inform the design of fusion targets to both maximize yield & the margins of sensitivity.
A parameter study was conducted for this purpose using 1D & 2D FLASH simulations of MagLIF with a cryogenic DT ice layer & a DT vapor fill.
This work builds off of a previous study of how MagLIF can be scaled to higher currents,2 whereas this work explores a parameter space at a fixed peak current of 60MA.
The results include the direct dependence of the fusion performance on these parameters, as well as the indirect effects of Nernst advection & magneto Rayleigh Taylor instability (MRTI) growth.
The Nernst advection is responsible for cavitating the magnetization of the fuel prior to the onset of burn, affecting the optimal axial field & preheat timing.
MRTI growth impacts convergence ratio uniformity, and informs the limits of the optimal applied field & the aspect ratio of the liner.
A summary of the fusion performance across this parameter space will be presented, along with how these results will inform target design on the Demonstration System.
[1] A Alexander et al, to appear in Phys. Plasmas 2025; arXiv.2504.10680
[2] D E Ruiz et al, Phys. Plasmas 2023
The burn performance of magnetically-driven ICF targets that will be used, such as MagLIF, are sensitive to a wide parameter space warranting a systematic study.
These parameters are the axial field strength, preheat timing, the aspect ratio of the liner, among others.
The goal is to inform the design of fusion targets to both maximize yield & the margins of sensitivity.
A parameter study was conducted for this purpose using 1D & 2D FLASH simulations of MagLIF with a cryogenic DT ice layer & a DT vapor fill.
This work builds off of a previous study of how MagLIF can be scaled to higher currents,2 whereas this work explores a parameter space at a fixed peak current of 60MA.
The results include the direct dependence of the fusion performance on these parameters, as well as the indirect effects of Nernst advection & magneto Rayleigh Taylor instability (MRTI) growth.
The Nernst advection is responsible for cavitating the magnetization of the fuel prior to the onset of burn, affecting the optimal axial field & preheat timing.
MRTI growth impacts convergence ratio uniformity, and informs the limits of the optimal applied field & the aspect ratio of the liner.
A summary of the fusion performance across this parameter space will be presented, along with how these results will inform target design on the Demonstration System.
[1] A Alexander et al, to appear in Phys. Plasmas 2025; arXiv.2504.10680
[2] D E Ruiz et al, Phys. Plasmas 2023
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Presenters
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Jason Hamilton
Pacific Fusion, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Authors
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Jason Hamilton
Pacific Fusion, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
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Paul F Schmit
Pacific Fusion
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Fernando Garcia Rubio
Pacific Fusion Corporation, Pacific Fusion
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Chiatai Chen
Pacific Fusion
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Adam Reyes
Pacific Fusion, University of Rochester
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Leland L Ellison
Pacific Fusion
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Nathan B Meezan
Pacific Fusion