Stabilized Liner Compressor for Low-Cost Controlled Fusion at Megagauss Field Levels

The notion of employing very high magnetic fields for fusion has been extended to so-called magnetized-target fusion (MTF), which may comprise both magnetic and inertial-confinement fusion schemes, and magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) in which the inertia of the liner is explicitly recognized for compressing and holding fusion plasma at relatively high density. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy through ARPA-E has initiated the ALPHA program for technologies that will enable the development of low-cost controlled fusion by MIF. While it is certainly possible to continue the past history of single-shot implosions of liners onto plasma targets, it has become clear that some means for performing frequent laboratory experiments at multimegajoule levels are needed for reasonable progress. To develop the necessary plasma targets for liner compression requires hundreds of shots, so technology for low cost, repetitive experiments must be created and demonstrated. Furthermore, to satisfy overall program goals, these techniques must extend to break-even experiments and economical fusion power reactors. The stabilized liner compressor (SLC) seeks to accomplish these goals by means of pneumatically driven, annular free-pistons imploding rotationally stabilized liquid metal liners. We review the basic concept, including the reactor embodiment, and discuss the liner and plasma issues for SLC.