Parameter Study of an Inertial Fusion Energy Chamber Response Using the 1-D BUCKY Radiation Hydrodynamics Code

A parameter study of a proposed inertial fusion energy chamber is performed. A baseline case of a 6-m-radius chamber filled with 6 μg/cm³ of xenon is studied in detail. The maximum first-wall temperature is shown to be 1136 K with an overpressure of 5.83 &plus 10⁻³ MPa. A parameter sweep is conducted for the chamber by adjusting the first-wall radius from 4 to 14 m, changing the gas density and changing the fill gas from xenon to argon. The results set limits on the first-wall radius for different gases and densities. Analytic fits to simulation results allow their use in overall engine design trade-off studies.