The analysis of the microexplosion ignition system for a Relativistic Electron Beam Hybrid Pulsed Fusion Reactor (REBHPFR)

As the analysis of the existing projects of the Relativistic Electron Beams Hybrid Pulsed Fusion Reactors (REBHPFR) [1–3] shows the main assembly determining the reactor scheme features is the thermonuclear micro explosion ignition system, that is the REB transportation and focusing manner. At present one may single out the two basic conceptions of the REBHPFR which having the equal average thermal power (Wt ≃ 10⁹W) differ in the microexplosion repetition frequency. The first conception is based on the high-frequency REB transportation and focusing system. As its example one may take the REBHPER project developed by Bechtel National, Inc. [3], in which the microexplosion repetition frequency has to be 10Hz. The ignition system here is based on the idea of the REB transportation and focusing along the current-carring channels, developed by a laser in the gas volume [8]. On the other hand the low-frequency, ignition system (0,1–1 Hz) has been chosen for the projects [1–2]. In these projects the REB transportation and focusing are proposed to be performed by virtue of the vacuum transportation lines (VTL) with the magnetic selfinsulation [4], or with the help of a combined system, which uses the VTL together with the REB transportation through plasma in the magnetic field. The purposes of this article are: -the analysis of the known REB transportation and focusing methods and the ignition system choice -the experimental simulation description of the combine ignition system -the analysis of the REBHPFR project based on the combined ignition system.