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Parameter Optimization Studies for a Tandem Mirror Neutron Source

Author: W. Horton
Requested Type: Consider for Invited
Submitted: 2009-11-10 11:53:04

Co-authors: S. Fu, A. Ivanov, A. Beklemishev

Contact Info:
Institute for Fusion Studies
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas   78712
USA

Abstract Text:
A basic plasma physics tandem mirror experiment is proposed to develop the potential uses of magnetic mirror confined plasmas for a neutron source. We consider parameter variations from the current Gas Dynamics Trap that attempt to optimize the neutron source intensity while minimizing the expense and complications of the system. The fundamental understanding of mirror plasma has progressed rapidly in the last five years with breakthroughs in performance from both the Gas Dynamic Trap and the GAMMA-10 systems. We use a high space-time resolution transport code ITB developed in Zhu and Horton (PoP, 2000) to describe the competition between the radial and end losses of an axisymmetric GDT-like system. For the system parameter vector X=[a, Lcc, Lt, Bcc, Bmax, P_ICRF, P_ECRF, Pcc,NBI, θ_NBI, P_plug,NBI ] we run the transport code varying the components to optimize the focused neutron flux in the mirroring region from the NBI injected ions. The parameters start at those for the present GDT. A genetic algorithm (GA) adopted from earlier research (Spencer, Horton et al. JGR, 2007) is used to find optimal combinations of system parameters within this multidimensional space. We focus on the most critical upgrades needed in GDT which are: 1) increase of the injection energy to 65kV at 10MW power, 2) the increase of the central cell magnetic field Bcc about 1T, 3) lengthening the pulse duration tpulse to 1sec and 4) adding ambipolar end cells for reducing axial losses The equivalent neutron flux of order 10^18n/s over the targets of 1m^2 corresponding to 2MW/m2 is expected for these values.

Characterization: A2

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