Advances in the Engineering of High Field Applied-B Ion Diodes for Inertial Confinement Fusion

Pulsed high field magnet coils are an integral part of the applied-B ion diode used in the light ion Inertial Confinement Fusion program at Sandia National Laboratories. Several factors have contributed in recent years to the need for higher magnetic fields of these applied-B ion diodes. These increased magnetic field requirements have precipitated the development of better engineering tools and techniques for use in the design of applied-B ion diodes. This paper describes the status of the applied-B ion diode engineering at Sandia. The design process and considerations are discussed. A systematic approach for maximizing the field achievable from a particular coil system consisting of the capacitor bank, the feeds, and the coil is presented. A coupled electromechanical finite element analysis is also described.