Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Plasma Physics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O.Box: 14515-775, Tehran - Iran
Abstract
In a polywell reactor, it is critical to have a stable and energetic virtual cathode that is necessary to accelerate ions and create fusion interactions. Increasing the confinement time of virtual cathode electrons is of critical importance in the performance of polywell reactors. In this paper, COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to perform a three-dimensional numerical simulation in order to investigate the impacts of effective variables of a polywell on the virtual cathode. The findings indicated that the confinement time depends on the distance between the coils, coil radius, coil current, and the kinetic energy of the injected electrons. In addition, by using the simulation results, the dependence of the mentioned parameters on the confinement time is obtained, and then a mathematical model was developed.
Highlights
1. R.W. Bussard, Some physics considerations of magnetic inertial-electrostatic confinement: A new concept for spherical converging-flow fusion, Fusion Sci. Technol., 19, 273 (1991).
2. J. Hedditch, R. Bowden-Reid, J. Khachan, Fusion energy in an inertial electrostatic confinement device using a magnetically shielded grid, Phys. Plasmas, 22, 102705 (2015).
3. O.A. Lavrent’ev, Electrostatic and electromagnetic high-temperature plasma traps, Ann.N.Y. Acad. Sci., 251, 152 (1975).
4. R.W. Bussard, Some Physics Considerations of Magnetic Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement: A New Concept for Spherical Converging-Flow Fusion, Fusion Technol, 19, 273 (1991).
5. F. Chen, Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Plenum Press (1984).
6. R. Bussard, Method and apparatus for creating and controlling nuclear fusion reactions, US Patent, 5, 160, 695, 3 November (1992).
7. R. Bussard, Method and apparatus for controlling charged particles, US Patent Application, 0187086/2008, 7 August (2008).
8. M. Carr, et al, Low beta confinement in a Polywell modelled with conventional point cusp theories, Physics of Plasmas, 18, 112501 (2011).
9. F. Kazemyzade, et al, Dependence of potential well depth on the magnetic field intensity in a polywell reactor, J. Fusion Energ., 31, 341 (2013).
10. D. Gummersall, et al, Scaling law of electron confinement in a zero beta polywell device, Phys. Plasmas, 20, 102701 (2013).
11. S. Cornish, et al, The dependence of potential well formation on the magnetic field strength and electron injection current in a polywell device, Phys. Plasmas, 21, 092502 (2014).
12. M. Carr, J. Khachan, The dependence of the virtual cathode in a polywellTM on the coil current and background gas pressure, Physics of Plasmas, 17, 052510 (2010).
13. M. Bagheri, et al, The effect of spacing factor on the confinement time of the electrons in a low beta Polywell device, 10, 055305 (2020).
14. J.G. Rogers, A Polywell Fusion Reactor Designed for Net Power Generation, Fusion Energy, 37, 1-20 (2017).
15. J. Park, et al, High-energy electron confinement in a magnetic cusp configuration, Phys. Rev., X 5, 021024 (2015).
16. D. Poznic, J. Ren, J. Khachan, Electron density and velocity functions in a low beta polywell, Phys. Plasmas, 26, 022703 (2019).
17. COMSOL MultiphysicsTM 5.2a, COMSOL, Inc., 2016, http://www.comsol.com.
- J.A. Bttincourt, Fundamentals of Plasma Physics, 3rd ed., (Springer, 2004).
Keywords
1. R.W. Bussard, Some physics considerations of magnetic inertial-electrostatic confinement: A new concept for spherical converging-flow fusion, Fusion Sci. Technol., 19, 273 (1991).
2. J. Hedditch, R. Bowden-Reid, J. Khachan, Fusion energy in an inertial electrostatic confinement device using a magnetically shielded grid, Phys. Plasmas, 22, 102705 (2015).
3. O.A. Lavrent’ev, Electrostatic and electromagnetic high-temperature plasma traps, Ann.N.Y. Acad. Sci., 251, 152 (1975).
4. R.W. Bussard, Some Physics Considerations of Magnetic Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement: A New Concept for Spherical Converging-Flow Fusion, Fusion Technol, 19, 273 (1991).
5. F. Chen, Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Plenum Press (1984).
6. R. Bussard, Method and apparatus for creating and controlling nuclear fusion reactions, US Patent, 5, 160, 695, 3 November (1992).
7. R. Bussard, Method and apparatus for controlling charged particles, US Patent Application, 0187086/2008, 7 August (2008).
8. M. Carr, et al, Low beta confinement in a Polywell modelled with conventional point cusp theories, Physics of Plasmas, 18, 112501 (2011).
9. F. Kazemyzade, et al, Dependence of potential well depth on the magnetic field intensity in a polywell reactor, J. Fusion Energ., 31, 341 (2013).
10. D. Gummersall, et al, Scaling law of electron confinement in a zero beta polywell device, Phys. Plasmas, 20, 102701 (2013).
11. S. Cornish, et al, The dependence of potential well formation on the magnetic field strength and electron injection current in a polywell device, Phys. Plasmas, 21, 092502 (2014).
12. M. Carr, J. Khachan, The dependence of the virtual cathode in a polywellTM on the coil current and background gas pressure, Physics of Plasmas, 17, 052510 (2010).
13. M. Bagheri, et al, The effect of spacing factor on the confinement time of the electrons in a low beta Polywell device, 10, 055305 (2020).
14. J.G. Rogers, A Polywell Fusion Reactor Designed for Net Power Generation, Fusion Energy, 37, 1-20 (2017).
15. J. Park, et al, High-energy electron confinement in a magnetic cusp configuration, Phys. Rev., X 5, 021024 (2015).
16. D. Poznic, J. Ren, J. Khachan, Electron density and velocity functions in a low beta polywell, Phys. Plasmas, 26, 022703 (2019).
17. COMSOL MultiphysicsTM 5.2a, COMSOL, Inc., 2016, http://www.comsol.com.
- J.A. Bttincourt, Fundamentals of Plasma Physics, 3rd ed., (Springer, 2004).
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