X-1: The challenge of high fusion yield Page: 1 of 6
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X-1: THE CHALLENGE OF HIGH FUSION YIELD*
D. L. Cook, J. J. Ramirez, P. S. Raglin, G. E. Rochau, M. K. Matzen, R. J. Leeper, J. L. Porter,
R. E. Olson, D. H. McDaniel, R. B. Spielman, C. Deeney, and J. P. Quintenz
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, NM87185-1190 COAJ P -cl 2 O&D3-
R. R. Peterson Pt e0VIVE
University of Wisconsin J o 8 1998
Madison, WI 53706
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ABSTRACT
In the past three years, tremendous strides have been made in x-ray production using high-
current z-pinches"5. Today, the x-ray energy and power output of the Z accelerator (formerly
PBFA II) is the largest available in the laboratory. These z-pinch x-ray sources have great
potential to drive high-yield inertial confinement fusion (ICF) reactions at affordable cost if
several challenging technical problems can be overcome. Technical challenges in three key areas
are discussed in this paper: the design of a target for high yield, the development of a suitable
pulsed power driver, and the design of a target chamber capable of containing the high fusion
yield.
INTRODUCTION
The Z accelerator at Sandia National Laboratories now produces a peak x-ray output energy
of 1.8 MJ and a peak x-ray output power of 280 TW from a z-pinch driven at approximately 20
MA. Optimization of z-pinch behavior on the Z accelerator and three prior generations of
accelerators (Saturn at 10 MA, Proto II at 5 MA, and SuperMite at 1.5 MA) has shown that the x-
ray energy output from high-current z-pinches scales quadratically with z-pinch current. This
scaling is in agreement with simple zero-dimensional analytic theory. For fixed output pulse
width, the x-ray power also scales quadratically with current. When the z-pinch is used to drive a
hohlraum, the hohlraum radiation ((-T4) is proportional to the z-pinch source radiation (I2), and
the hohlraum temperature is proportional to the square root of the z-pinch current. These basic
relationships, demonstrated conclusively on the Z accelerator, indicate that a single accelerator
with about three times the current of Z (or about 60 MA), or two accelerators, each having about
twice the current of Z (or about 40 MA), should be sufficient to drive a fusion capsule to high
fusion yield. The features of this accelerator, called X-1, are discussed in this paper. It is a
remarkable result that the energy conversion efficiency, from electrical energy stored in the Marx
generator to x-ray energy produced in a short pulse by a fast z-pinch, exceeds 15% on the Z
accelerator. The implications of this result are that sufficient x-ray energy can be produced at
modest cost in X-1 to drive an ICF capsule to high yield.
*Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin
Company, for the United States Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000
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Cook, D. L.; Ramirez, J. J. & Raglin, P. S. X-1: The challenge of high fusion yield, article, June 1, 1998; Albuquerque, New Mexico. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc704246/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.