Numerical validation of a volume heated mixed fuel reactor concept

In earlier papers \cite{ruhlkornarXiv,ruhlkornarXiv1,ruhlkornarXiv2} the core elements of a novel direct drive $\text{pBDT}$ mixed fuel reactor without fuel pre-compression have been discussed. The predominant purpose of the mixed fuel is to chemically bind $\text{DT}$. It has been found that the proposed mixed fuel design can reach $Q_T > 1$ with $\text{MJ}$ level external isochoric heating and without fuel pre-compression due to a novel direct drive ultra-fast heating concept. In order to further validate the concept we make use of MULTI, an ICF community code, and show with the help of MULTI simulations that the semi-analytical scaling model presented in a previous paper is capable of making accurate predictions. The MULTI simulations yield $Q_T > 1$ for a $\text{pBDT}$ fuel mix at $\text{MJ}$ level isochoric preheating, which validates our theoretical model involving in-situ compression for $Q_T \gg 1$ at reduced overall heating requirements.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Overview of Theory and Simulations in the Heavy Ion Fusion Science Virtual National Laboratory

Abstract Abstract The Heavy Ion Fusion Science Virtual National Laboratory (HIFS-VNL) is a collaboration of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. These laboratories, in cooperation with researchers at other institutions, are carrying out a coordinated effort to apply intense ion beams as drivers for studies of the physics of matter at extreme conditions, and ultimately for inertial fusion energy. Progress on this endeavor depends upon coordinated application of experiments, theory, and simulations. This paper describes the state of the art, with an emphasis on the coordination of modeling and experiment; developments in the simulation tools, and in the methods that underly them, are also treated