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Design Study of Laser Fusion Rocket

Research Project

Project/Area Number 05808046
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field Nuclear fusion studies
Research InstitutionKyushu University

Principal Investigator

NAKAO Yasuyuki  Kyushu University, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Associate Professor, 工学部, 助教授 (00164129)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) AKAHOSHI Y  Kyushu Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Associate, 工学部, 助教授 (60222519)
ODA Akinori  Kyushu University, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Research Associate, 工学部, 助手 (60224234)
NISHIKAWA M  Kyushu University, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Professor, 工学部, 教授 (90026229)
和久田 義久  九州大学, 工学部, 教授 (10037781)
Project Period (FY) 1993 – 1994
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1994)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000)
Fiscal Year 1994: ¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000)
Fiscal Year 1993: ¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000)
KeywordsLaser fusion rocket / D-T Target / Implosion simulation / Burning chamber / Thrust efficiency / Particle-in-cell code / Spin-polarized fuels / Tritium handling technology / DTターゲット / 燃焼室 / 核スピン偏極 / D-Tペレット / システム設計
Research Abstract

The main purpose of the present study is to design a laser fusion rocket that is capable of manned Mars missions with a payload of 100 tons. The results are summarized as follows.
(1)First, implosion/burn simulations were made for DT targets to evaluate the target gain and required laser driver energy. The roles of fusion-produced neutrons and alpha-particles in the ignition and burn phases were clarified. It was found that with the laser driver energy of <greater than or equal>3MJ,we can achieve the target gain as hig
(2)A two-dimensional collisionless particle-in-cell (PC) code was developed to analyze the interaction between plasma debris derived from the DT pellet microexplosion and magnetic field applied in the thrust chamber. The thrust conversion efficiency (in terms of momentum) is given as a function of rheta, the angle subtended from the central axis to the magnetic coil. It was shown that the efficiency has a broad maximum at rheta<square root>0゚ and reaches -60%.
(3)There is a possibility that plasma instabilities such as Rayleigh-Taylor one occur in the magnetic nozzleadopted here in the thrust chamber design. The plasma should not be diffused out across the magnetic field duringits expansion. In order to investigate this problem, a three-dimensional PIC code was developed. The examination of the problem is in progress.
(4)For the sake of comparison, plasma design study was carried out for a D-^3He fueled/field-reversed configuration (FRC) rocket. It was shown that the D-^3He/FRC rocekt is also one of the promising propulsion systems for manned Mars missions.
In addition, some studies relevant to fusion rocket were also made. These include the possibility of using spin-polarized fuels, structural design of rocket system, fueling scheme, and tritium handling in space.

Report

(3 results)
  • 1994 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1993 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (31 results)

All Other

All Publications (31 results)

  • [Publications] Y.Nakao.et al.: "Calculational Method for Nuetron Heating in Dense Plasma Systems,(II)Application to Burning D-T Pellets" Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 30. 1207-1213 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima,et al.: "Field Reversed Configuration (FRC)Fusion Rocket" Proc.11th Symp.on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion(Albuquerque,1994). 1311-1317 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao,et al.: "Neutron Interactions in Compressed D-T Pellets for Inertial Confinement Fusion" Energing Nuclear Energy Systems (Proc.7th Into Conf.,Chiba,1993). 117-121 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A.Oda,et al.: "Tritium Breeding in Inertial Confinement Fusion Blankets:Effects of Source Neutron Energy Spectra" Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems (Proc.7th Int. Conf.,Chiba,1993). 213-217 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima,et al.: "Neutron Transport in Burning D-T Pellets for Inertial Confinement Fusion" Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomona(Proc.11th Int.Conf.,Monterey,1993). 413-418 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 西尾浩紀,他: "D-^3He/FRC核融合推進ロケットの炉心プラズマ設計" 九州大学工学集報. 67. 495-502 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] T.Johzaki,et al.: "Neutron Heating in Laser-Imploded DT Pellet" Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 32. 81-83 (1995)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao,et al.: "Neutron Heating in Ignittion and Burn Phases of Laser-Imploded DT Pellets" 12th Int.Conf.on Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena(Osaka,1995). (発表予定).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima,et al.: "Some Design Aspects of Laser Fusion Rochet" 12th Int.Conf.on Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena(Osaka,1995). (発表予定).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao, et al.: ""Calculational Method for Neutron Heating in Dense Plasma Systems, (II) Application to Burning D-T Pellets"" J.Nucl.Sci.Technol.30[12]. 1207-1213 (1993)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima, et al.: ""Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) Fusion Rocket"" Proc.11th Symp.on Space NuclearPower and Propulsion (Albuquerque, 1994). 1311-1317 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao, et al.: ""Neutron Interactions in Compressed D-T Pellets for Inertial Confinement Fusion"" Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems (Proc.7th Int.Conf., Chiba, 1993). 117-121 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A.Oda, et al.: ""Tritium Breeding in Inertial Confinement Fusion Blankets : Effects of Source Neutron Energy Spectra"" ibid.213-217 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima, et al.: ""Neutron Transport in Burning D-T Pellets for Inertial Confinement Fusion"" Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena (Proc.11th Int.Conf., Monterey, 1993). 413-418 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H.Nishio, et al.: ""Core Plasma Design for D-^3He/FRC Fusion Propulsion Rocket"(in Japanese)." Technology Reports of Kyushu University. 67[5]. 495-502 (1994)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] T.Johzaki, et al.: ""Neutron Heating in Laser-Imploded DT Pellet"" J.Nucl.Sci.Technol.32[1]. 81-83 (1995)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao, et al.: ""Neutron Heating in Ignition and Burn Phases of Laser-Imploded DT Pellets"" 12th Int.Conf.on Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena (Osaka, 1995). to be presented.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima, et al.: ""Some Design Aspects of Laser Fusion Rocket"" 12th Int.Conf.on Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena (Osaka, 1995). to be presented.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1994 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao,et al.: "Calculational Method for Xeutron Heating in Dense Plasma Systems,(II) Application to Burning D-TPellets" Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 30. 1207-1213 (1993)

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima,et al.: "Field Reversed Configuration(FRC)Fusion Rocket" Proc.11th Symp.on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion(Albuguergue,1994). 1311-1317 (1994)

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao,et al.: "Neutron Interactions in Compressed D-TPellets for Inertial Confinoment Fusion" Emerging Nuclear Erergy Systems (Proc.7th Into Conf,Chiba,1993). 117-121 (1994)

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] A.Oda,et al.: "Tritium Breeding in Inertial Confinement Fusion Blankets:Effects of Source Neutron Energy Spectira" Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems (Proc.7th Int.Conf.,Chiba,1993). 213-214 (1994)

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima,et al.: "Neutron Transport in Burning D-T Pellets for Inertial Confinement Fusion" Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena(Proc.11th Int.Conf,Monterey,1993). 413-418 (1994)

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 西尾浩紀,他: "D-^3He/FRC核融合推進ロケットの炉心プラズマ設計" 九州大学工学集報. 67. 495-502 (1994)

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] T.Johzaki,et al.: "Neutron Heating in Laser-Imploded DT Pellet" Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 32. 81-83 (1995)

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao,et al.: "Neutron Heating in Ignition and Burn Phases of Lasser-Imploded DT Pellets" 12th Int.Conf.on Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phonomena(Osaka,1995). (発表予定).

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima,et al.: "Some Destgn Aspects of Laser Fusion Rocket" 12th Int.Conf.on Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomera(Osaka,1995). (発表予定).

    • Related Report
      1994 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao,et al.: "Calculational Method for Neutron Heating in Dense Plasma Systems,(II) Application to Burning D-T Pellets" Journal of Nuelear Science and Technology. 30. 1207-1213 (1993)

    • Related Report
      1993 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Y.Nakao,et al.: "Neutron Interactions in Compressed D-T Pellets for Inertial Confinement Fusion" Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems (Proc.7th Int.Conf.,Chiba,1993).

    • Related Report
      1993 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Shoyama,et al.: "Some Design Aspects of D-^3He Fuel Inertial Confinement Fusion Reactor" Emenging Nuclear Energy Systems (Proc.7th Int.Conf.,Chiba,1993).

    • Related Report
      1993 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Nakashima,et al.: "Neutron Transport in Burning D-T Pellets for Inertial Confinement Fusion" Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena (Proc.11th Int.Conf.,Monterey,). (1993)

    • Related Report
      1993 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1993-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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