Analysis and optimization of plasma and magnetic field behavior in a magnetic nozzle for laser fusion propulsion

• Project/Area Number: 15K18283
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aerospace engineering
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Morita Taichi 九州大学, 総合理工学研究院, 助教 (30726401)
• Research Collaborator: YAMAMOTO Naoji ; FUJIOKA Shinsuke ; MORI Yoshitaka ; SUNAHARA Atsushi ; JOHZAKI Tomonori ; KAJIMURA Yoshihiro ; NAGATOMO Hideo
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
• Keywords: 磁気ノズル / レーザー核融合ロケット / レーザー生成プラズマ / 高出力レーザー / レーザー計測 / レーザー核融合推進 / レーザートムソン散乱計測 / 輻射磁気流体シミュレーション / 磁気スラストチャンバー / レーザートムソン散乱 / イオンバックライト計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Magnetic thrust chamber is one of the candidates of thrust system for laser fusion rocket. We performed experimental research (1) on visualization of magnetic field and (2) on the local plasma parameter measurement. First, we successfully developed ion backlight system with Xe ion source and applied it to a laser-produced plasma. In the experiment, however, the system did not work due to electromagnetic noise from large laser systems. In addition, we developed high-resolution spectrometer to measure the ion feature of Thomson scattering from a probe laser. We successfully measured local plasma parameters such as temperature, density, and drift velocity in relatively low density plasmas in a magnetic thrust chamber systems. The results suggested that the plasma was extracted from the magnetic nozzle, indicating the thrust system works as expected.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Plasma structure and energy dependence in a magnetic thrust chamber system (2016)
  • Author(s): T Morita, N Yamamoto, R Kawashima, N Saito, M Edamoto, S Fujioka, Y Itadani, T Johzaki, S Miura, Y Mori, H Nishimura, A Sunahara, A Yogo, H Nakashima
  • Journal Title: Journal of Physics: Conference Series Volume: 717 Pages: 012071-012071
  • DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/717/1/012071
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] The Measurement of Plasma Structure in a Magnetic Thrust Chamber (2016)
  • Author(s): R. Kawashima, T. Morita, N. Yamamoto, N. Saito, S. Fujioka, H. Nishimura, H. Matsukuma, A. Sunahara, Y. Mori, T. Johzaki, and H. NAKASHIMA
  • Journal Title: Plasma and Fusion Research Volume: 11 Issue: 0 Pages: 3406012-3406012
  • DOI: 10.1585/pfr.11.3406012
  • NAID: 130005401628
  • ISSN: 1880-6821
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Plasma structure and energy dependence in a magnetic thrust chamber system (2016)
  • Author(s): T. Morita, N. Yamamoto, R. Kawashima, N. Saito, M. Edamoto, S. Fujioka, Y. Itadani, T. Johzaki, S. Miura, Y. Mori, H. Nishimura, A. Sunahara, A. Yogo, and H. Nakashima
  • Journal Title: Jouranal of Physics: Conference Series Volume: 未定
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] レーザー核融合推進にむけたモデル実験におけるレーザー生成プラズマの制御とプラズマ計測 (2017)
  • Author(s): 森田太智, 山本直嗣, 齋藤直哉, 枝本雅史, 三浦智之, 板谷佑太朗, 砂原淳, 長友英夫, 藤岡慎介, 城崎知至, 森芳孝, 余語覚文, 西村博明, 中島秀紀
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 大阪大学
  • Year and Date: 2017-03-18
• [Presentation] 磁気スラストチャンバーによるプラズマ排出制御の実験的検証 (2016)
  • Author(s): 森田太智, 山本直嗣, 齋藤直哉, 枝本雅史, 三浦智之, 板谷佑太朗, 児島富彦, 砂原淳, 藤岡慎介, 長友英夫, 城崎知至, 森芳孝, 余語覚文, 西村博明, 中島秀紀
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 金沢大学
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-14
• [Presentation] 磁気ノズルにおける推力発生の原理実証実験 (2016)
  • Author(s): 森田太智, 山本直嗣, 齋藤直哉, 川島諒祐, 枝本雅史, 三浦智之, 板谷佑太朗, 砂原淳, 藤岡慎介, 城崎知至, 森芳孝, 余語覚文, 西村博明, 中島秀紀
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 東北学院大学 泉キャンパス
  • Year and Date: 2016-03-22
• [Presentation] レーザー核融合ロケット推進の基礎研究 (2016)
  • Author(s): 山本直嗣，齋藤直哉，森田太智，中島秀紀，藤岡慎介, 余語覚文，西村博明，森 芳孝，砂原 淳，城崎知至
  • Organizer: レーザー学会
  • Place of Presentation: 名城大学 天白キャンパス
  • Year and Date: 2016-01-10
  • Invited
• [Presentation] 磁気スラストチャンバーにおけるプラズマの振る舞いに関する実験 (2015)
  • Author(s): 川島諒祐, 山本直嗣, 森田太智, 齋藤直哉, 枝本雅史, 三浦智之, 板谷佑太朗, 中島秀紀, 藤岡慎介, 余語覚文, 松隈啓, 西村博明, 砂原淳, 城崎知至, 森芳孝
  • Organizer: プラズマ・核融合学会
  • Place of Presentation: 名古屋大学
  • Year and Date: 2015-11-26
• [Presentation] Model Experiment of a Magnetic Thrust Chamber System for Laser Fusion Rocket (2015)
  • Author(s): 1.T. Morita, N. Yamamoto, R. Kawashima, N. Saito, M. Edamoto, S. Fujioka, Y. Itadani, T. Johzaki, S. Miura, Y. Mori, H. Nishimura, A. Sunahara, A. Yogo, and H. Nakashima
  • Organizer: International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications (IFSA 2015)
  • Place of Presentation: Seattle, WA, USA
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-22
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 大型レーザー生成プラズマを用いた磁気ノズルによる推進システムの模擬実験 (2015)
  • Author(s): 森田太智, 山本直嗣, 齋藤直哉, 藤岡慎介, 城崎知至, 川島諒祐, 森芳孝, 西村博明, 砂原淳, 余語覚文, 中島秀紀
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 関西大学
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-18