Development of multi-scale simulation tools for laser-plasma interactions and their validation against fusion experiments

激光-等离子体相互作用的多尺度模拟工具的开发及其对聚变实验的验证

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-05787
• 负责人: Myatt, Jason
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=713333
• 关键词: Development; multi; scale; simulation; tools

This proposal describes a unique program of research that aims to involve Canada in, and to contribute toward, the first demonstration of ignition in controlled nuclear fusion using ultra powerful lasers (so-called inertial confinement fusion). Bringing fusion, the energy of the stars, to earth has been attempted for several decades because of its promise to provide sustainable energy with acceptable waste. Facilities now exist worldwide where ignition the release of more energy than used to create the implosion may become a reality. The program of research funded by this proposal aims to build on international collaboration to accelerate the development of the technology, our ability to understand and predict in detail the processes occurring in the fusion targets, and to train personnel in the relevant technical areas. The specific areas targeted by the research are based on two key developments that are thought necessary for the future success of inertial confinement fusion: (1) the development of computer codes that describe the interplay between processes occurring over vastly different time and length scales (multi-scale models), and (2) the thoughtful testing of these multiple-scale models against experiments that have been carefully designed and diagnosed for the purpose. Fusion targets are compressed to the high temperatures and densities required for nuclear fusion by intense laser beams. However, the target is not stable and a high degree of control over the “push” provided by the laser beams is required to keep the target sufficiently spherical as it is compressed. Under this program, several strategies will be pursued that will investigate modifications to the laser that will both improve the control over the “push” and improve the target's stability. This will be achieved by improving the propagation and absorption of the intense laser light in the blow off from the surface of the fusion target. Several complex and nonlinear processes exist in this region (with names such as “cross-beam energy transfer”, “two-plasmon decay”, and “stimulated Raman scattering”) they are the source of the mixing of time and length scales. This improvement in control may be sufficient to permit the first laboratory demonstration of ignition in a nuclear fusion experiment. Such a demonstration will profoundly influence energy strategies worldwide and impact Canada Initially, this work will begin by using state-of-the-art numerical tools developed at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), in Rochester, NY. New models will be added as they are developed by individual projects under this program. The results of these investigations will motivate, and be tested against experiments performed through collaborative efforts at the LLE, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, CA), and the US Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, D.C.).

该提案描述了一个独特的研究方案，旨在使加拿大参与并促进首次演示使用超强激光器的受控核聚变点火（所谓的惯性约束聚变）。几十年来，人们一直试图将恒星的能量融合到地球上，因为它有望提供可持续的能源，同时产生可接受的废物。现在世界各地都有点火设施，释放的能量比用来制造内爆的能量更多，这可能成为现实。 该提案资助的研究计划旨在建立国际合作，以加速技术的发展，我们详细了解和预测聚变目标中发生的过程的能力，并培训相关技术领域的人员。研究所针对的具体领域是基于惯性约束聚变未来成功所必需的两个关键发展：（1）开发计算机代码，描述发生在时间和长度尺度差异很大的过程之间的相互作用（多尺度模型），（2）对这些多尺度模型进行了深思熟虑的测试，这些实验是精心设计和诊断的。 聚变靶被强激光束压缩到核聚变所需的高温和密度。然而，目标是不稳定的，并且需要对由激光束提供的“推动”进行高度控制，以在目标被压缩时保持目标足够球形。根据该计划，将采取几种策略来研究对激光器的修改，这些修改将改善对“推动”的控制并提高目标的稳定性。这将通过改善从聚变靶表面吹离的强激光的传播和吸收来实现。在这个区域中存在几个复杂的和非线性的过程（具有诸如“交叉束能量转移”、“双等离子体衰变”和“受激拉曼散射”的名称），它们是时间尺度和长度尺度混合的源。这种控制上的改进可能足以在核聚变实验中进行首次实验室点火演示。这样的示范将深刻影响全球的能源战略，并影响加拿大 最初，这项工作将开始使用国家的最先进的数值工具，在实验室的激光能量学（LLE），在罗切斯特，纽约州。新的模型将被添加，因为它们是由该计划下的各个项目开发的。这些研究的结果将激励LLE、劳伦斯利弗莫尔国家实验室（加利福尼亚州利弗莫尔）和美国海军研究实验室（华盛顿，华盛顿特区）通过合作努力进行的实验，并对其进行测试。