Magneto-inertial fusion

Magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) describes a class of fusion devices which combine aspects of magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion in an attempt to lower the cost of fusion devices.[1] MIF uses magnetic fields to confine an initial warm, low-density plasma, then compresses that plasma to fusion conditions using an impulsive driver or "liner."

Magneto-inertial fusion approaches differ in the degree of magnetic organization present in the initial target, as well as the nature and speed of the imploding liner. Laser, solid,[2] liquid and plasma[3] liners have all been proposed.

Magneto-inertial fusion begins with a warm dense plasma target containing a magnetic field. Plasma's conductivity prevents it from crossing magnetic field lines. As a result, compressing the target amplifies the magnetic field.[4][5] [6] Since the magnetic field reduces particle transport, the field insulates the target from the liner.

The starships in Mike Kupari's novel Her Brother's Keeper are propelled in part by magneto-inertial fusion rockets.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Why Magnetized Target Fusion Offers a Low-Cost Development Path For Fusion Energy (PDF)
  2. ↑ FRX-L: A Field-Reversed Configuration Plasma Injector For Magnetized Target Fusion (PDF)
  3. ↑ Plasma-Jet Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion
  4. ↑ Status of the US program in magneto-inertial fusion (PDF)
  5. ↑ Wessel, F. J.; Felber, F. S.; Wild, N. C.; Rahman, H. U.; Fisher, A.; Ruden, E. (1986-04-28). "Generation of high magnetic fields using a gas‐puff Z pinch". Applied Physics Letters. 48 (17): 1119–1121. Bibcode:1986ApPhL..48.1119W. doi:10.1063/1.96616. ISSN 0003-6951.
  6. ↑ H. U. Rahman, F. J. Wessel, and N. Rostoker, Staged Z-pinch. Physical Review Letters 74 (1995), 714.
  7. ↑ Kupari, Mike (2015). Her Brother's Keeper. Riverdale, New York: Baen Books. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4767-8090-0. OCLC 920469663.


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