Plasma models for standard mirror reactors

Abstract

The modelling of reactors based on neutral-beam-driven plasmas confined in open-ended magnetic wells (standard mirrors) is described. Two reactors have been treated in detail: a fusion reactor producing 500 MW of electrical power and one whose main output is 2000 kg per year of fissile material. Resultant parameters for the first (fusion) reactor are: Einj = 125 keV, β⊥ = 0.8, ⟨nτ⟩ = 4 × 1013 cm−3 · s and Q = 1.1. Corresponding values for the second (hybrid) reactor are: Einj = 94 (D0) and 141 (T0) keV, β⊥ = 0.7, ⟨nτ⟩ = 2 × 1013 cm−3 · s and Q = 0.67. The low Q-values of these reactors make them unattractive as electricity producers, but of potential value as fissile-fuel producers.

An analytic model for classical ion confinement in tandem mirror plugs

“…This note describes a simple heuristic model of classical plug ion confinement in the general case. The model is useful for reactor studies because it allows one to replace two-dimensional, non-linear Fokker-Planck computations [3,4] by a few simple equations describing particle and energy confinement in a magnetic mirror.…”

Energy-dependent finite-orbit treatment for plasma buildup in mirror fusion devices

“…Introducing this plasma, however, with its cold elecLrons reduces ion confinement through energy loss to the electrons. This model (now called BUILDUP 16 ) was later improved by S. DeVoto to include two additional beam injection energies, but otherwise remains essentially the same as the original in its limitations (lack of an energy treatment, lack of overall self-consistency).…”