81
Formed
Membrane Target Components for Inertial Confinement Fusion and Inertial Fusion
Energy--Luxel
Corporation, 515 Tucker Avenue, P.O. Box 1879, Friday Harbor, WA
98250-8040; 360-378-4137, www.luxel.com
Mr.
Jordan Alexander, Principal Investigator, jordan.alexander@luxel.com
Mr.
Daniel L. Wittkopp, Business Official,
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83701
Amount:
$749,701
The
future of inertial fusion energy depends upon the successful demonstration of
ignition and gain. Ignition and
other inertial confinement fusion experiments require thin, shaped membranes for
target components. In most target
concepts, the spherical fuel capsule is suspended in the middle of a cylindrical
shell or hohlraum. The capsule must
be accurately located within a few microns by the capsule support:
two ultra-thin membranes that must possess high strength, high radiation
resistance, and good cryogenic properties. While
polyimide can meet all of the performance requirements, no methods are currently
available for producing the complex shapes needed for these applications.
This project will develop technology for forming polyimide films,
0.03-5.0 microns thick, into shapes needed for ignition targets and for a
variety of inertial confinement fusion and inertial fusion energy applications.
During Phase I, high-strength polyimide films were successfully formed
into the hemispherical and conical shapes required for capsule supports for
ignition and heavy ion fusion targets. Two
processes, ultrathin pressure-forming and pressure-forming with reflow above the
glass transition temperature, emerged as viable processes for achieving a
variety of forms in polyimide membranes. Complementary
measurement techniques were developed to provide a predictive capability for
determining the formed film thickness and strength.
Phase II will extend the forming process in two ways: (1) to thinner
films to optimize the capsule supports needed for ignition; and (2) to
accommodate more shapes needed for other fusion science and energy applications.
Formed membranes will be optimized for enhanced performance, and the
precision assembly of ignition targets that incorporate the new capsule supports
will be demonstrated.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as
described by awardee: The polyimide
forming process should provide low cost target components for a variety of
inertial fusion applications. In
addition, shaped polyimide components may find use in other applications such as
insulation in super conducting magnets, miniature pressure transducers or
flexible electronics.