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J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1, 053103 (2009); doi:10.1063/1.3253693 (12 pages)

Comparison of the recently proposed super-Marx generator approach to thermonuclear ignition with the deuterium-tritium laser fusion-fission hybrid concept by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

F. Winterberg

University of Nevada, Nevada 89557-0220, USA Map This map

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The recently proposed super-Marx generator pure deuterium microdetonation ignition concept is compared to the Lawrence Livermore National Ignition Facility (NIF) Laser deuterium-tritium fusion-fission hybrid concept (LIFE). In a super-Marx generator, a large number of ordinary Marx generators charge up a much larger second stage ultrahigh voltage Marx generator from which for the ignition of a pure deuterium microexplosion an intense GeV ion beam can be extracted. Typical examples of the LIFE concept are a fusion gain of 30 and a fission gain of 10, making up a total gain of 300, with about ten times more energy released into fission as compared to fusion. This means the substantial release of fission products, as in fissionless pure fission reactors. In the super-Marx approach for the ignition of pure deuterium microdetonation, a gain of the same magnitude can, in theory, be reached. If feasible, the super-Marx generator deuterium ignition approach would make lasers obsolete as a means for the ignition of thermonuclear microexplosions.

© 2009 American Institute of Physics

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work has been supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FG02-06ER54900. The author thanks Dr. S. Fuelling for the many valuable comments and the artwork of the many drawings.

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. SOLUTION IN BETWEEN TWO EXTREMES
  3. FROM THE MARX TO THE SUPER-MARX
  4. CONNECTING THE SUPER-MARX TO THE LOAD
  5. THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION AND BURN
  6. CONVERSION OF THE EXPLOSIVELY RELEASED ENERGY
  7. OTHER POSSIBILITIES
  8. DISCUSSION

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

explosions, fission products, fusion reactor ignition, hybrid reactors, pulsed power supplies

PACS

  • 28.52.Cx

    Fueling, heating and ignition

  • 84.70.+p

    High-current and high-voltage technology: power systems; power transmission lines and cables

ARTICLE DATA

History
Received 1 June 2009
Accepted 2 October 2009
Published 29 October 2009
Permalink
http://link.aip.org/link/JRSEBH/v1/i5/p053103/s1

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:

19417012 (print)  
19417012 (online)

Publisher:

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Institute of Physics

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Figures (click on thumbnails to view enlargements)

FIG. 1
Ignition of a deuterium target by a GeV, 10 MA proton beam
FIG. 1 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 2
In an “ordinary” Marx generator, n capacitors C charged up to the voltage v and are over spark gaps switched into series, adding up their voltages to the voltage V = nv.
FIG. 2 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 3
In a super-Marx generator, N Marx generators charge up N fast capacitors FC to the voltage V, which switched into series add up their voltages to the voltage NV.
FIG. 3 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 4
Artistic perception of a 1.5 km long super-Marx generator, composed of 100×15 m long high voltage capacitors each designed as a magnetically insulated coaxial transmission line. The coaxial capacitor/transmission lines are placed inside a large vacuum vessel. Each capacitor/transmission line is charged by two conventional Marx generators up symmetrically to 10 MV (±5 MV). After charge up is completed, the Marx generators are electrically decoupled from the capacitor/transmission lines. The individual capacitor/transmission line is subsequently connected in series via spark gap switches (i.e., the “super-Marx” generator), producing a potential of 1 GV.
FIG. 4 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 5
A detailed view of a section of the super-Marx generator. Two conventional Marx banks charge up one coaxial capacitor/transmission line element to 10 MV.
FIG. 5 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 6
Injection of GeV, 10 MA proton beam, drawn from super-Marx generator made up of magnetically insulated coaxial capacitors into chamber with cylindrical deuterium target.
FIG. 6 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 7
Shows a few elements of the super-Marx generator.
FIG. 7 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 8
Connection of the last capacitor of the super-Marx to the Blumlein transmission line.
FIG. 8 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 9
(a) The superconducting toroidal capacitor and (b) its discharge onto the target.
FIG. 9 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 10
Possible deuterium microdetonation target: I is ion beam, D is the deuterium cylinder, B is magnetic field, and h is the cylindrical hohlraum.
FIG. 10 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 11
Sequence of events to bombard the target by the proton beam from the Blumlein transmission line.
FIG. 11 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)
FIG. 12
Bombarding a cylindrical, deuterium containing target, with an intense heavy ion beam.
FIG. 12 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file)

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