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Numerical Study for Laser Source Protection from Alpha Particles by Magnetic Fields in a Laser Fusion Reactor

Yoshihiro KAJIMURA, Takayoshi NORIMATSU¹⁾ and Hideki NAKASHIMA²⁾

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan

1)

Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

2)

Dept. Advanced Energy Engineering Science Kyushu University, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan

(Received 7 December 2010 / Accepted 16 March 2011 / Published 1 July 2011)

Abstract

A possible method for protecting beam ports and laser sources from alpha particles which are produced by a nuclear fusion in the fast ignition laser fusion power plant (KOYO-Fast) is proposed. Two simple dipolar magnetic fields generated by two coils installed at the tip of the beam port and at the side of the beam port are used for protecting the alpha particles coming into the inside of the beam port and colliding to the tip surface of the beam port. To calculate the behavior of alpha particles in the magnetic field, we use a 3D hybrid numerical simulation code. As a result, the intensity of 0.9 T of the magnetic flux density at the tip of the beam port is large enough for achieving the 10% reduction of the collision energy of the alpha particles to the tip surface of the beam port compared with the case without protection. Furthermore, the intensity of 1.35 T of the magnetic flux density at the center of the coil installed at the side of the beam port can guide the alpha particles coming into the inside of the beam port to the outside liquid wall perfectly.

Copyright (c) 2011 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research

Keywords

KOYO-Fast, laser beam source protection, alpha particle, magnetic field, simulation

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.6.2404049

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References

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This paper may be cited as follows:

Yoshihiro KAJIMURA, Takayoshi NORIMATSU and Hideki NAKASHIMA, Plasma Fusion Res. 6, 2404049 (2011).