A5053833648- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Magnetic confinement fusion research
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Fusion materials and technologies
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Laser Design and Applications
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
- Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
The sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch concept has been studied extensively and is able to produce fusion-relevant plasma parameters along with neutron production over several microseconds. We present here elevated electron temperature results spatially temporally coincident the source. An optical Thomson scattering apparatus designed for FuZE device measures temperatures in range of 1–3 keV on axis device, 20 cm downstream nose cone. 17-fiber system radial profiles temperature. Scanning laser...
Zap Energy is a private fusion energy company developing the sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch concept for commercial production. Spun out from University of Washington, these experimental and computational efforts have resulted in devices with quasi-steady DD yields above 109 per pulse. These support scaling toward breakeven on existing as well beyond to commercially relevant engineering gains. This article discusses strategy behind Zap's development path, which derived directly...
We report the plasma pressure reached inside central column of a sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch using Thomson scattering measurements. Building on previously reported experimental results and analysis methods established for high temperature moderate density plasmas generated FuZE device, we show evidence region with higher electron density, which is consistent pinch behavior. Elevated temperatures up to 2.25 ± 0.8 keV densities (4.9±0.2)×1017 cm−3 are observed temporally coincide fusion...
A sheared flow stabilized Z pinch has been shown to successfully mitigate MHD instability modes on the ZaP-FuZE experiment, paving way for scientific breakeven next generation machine Fuze-Q. Machine learning algorithms that can identify relationship between input parameters and desirable outcomes such as neutron yield current will fill a critical role in achieving this milestone. One impediment analysis is high dimensionality coupled parameters. We use Sparse Principal Component Analysis...
A 633 nm interferometer provides information on the evolution of plasma as it passes from a coaxial gun (acceleration) region into high density pinch (assembly) region. The stabilization Z relies sheared flow generated by complex balance between gas and dynamics in acceleration This diagnostic utilizes 21 mW helium-neon laser passing through 80 MHz acousto-optic modulator to generate scene reference beams that are then recombined after interaction with input speed avalanche photodetector....