8-12 August 2016
Novosibirsk
Asia/Novosibirsk timezone

Optimization of GDT- and GDMT-based neutron sources with Hooke-Jeeves and differential evolution algorithms

11 Aug 2016, 11:40
20m
Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk

Oral Mirror-based 14 MeV neutron sources Mirror-based 14 MeV neutron sources

Speaker

Mr Dmitry Yurov (Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics)

Description

Suggested report is dedicated to the assessment of capabilities of fusion neutron sources (FNSs) predominantly designed for using within subcritical hybrids for nuclear technology applications and based either on gas-dynamic trap (GDT) [1] or on the concept of gas-dynamic multiple-mirror trap (GDMT) [2]. The former of the mentioned mirror machines is an experimental facility under operation in Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, while the latter is a project developed in the same organization and expected to provide a better axial confinement time in comparison with GDT due to the effect of ion collective scattering in tailing mirror sections with small mirror ratio (the effect was previously observed in experiments on GOL-3 device [3, 4]). In mathematical terms the problem of the study has been formulated as searching the global maximum of fusion performance ($Q_{eng}$), the latter considered as a function of engineering parameters of the mirror machine. To carry out the optimization the differential evolution method [5] and a simplified modification of the Hooke-Jeeves algorithm [6] were used. It is important to mention, that the numerical investigation has also taken into account a number of constraints on plasma characteristics so as to provide physical credibility of the considered mirror configurations. The DOL code previously described in [7] was applied to calculate neutron source characteristics at each step of the optimization process. Concerning GDT-based FNSs, quite numerous investigations of similar kind have been published in recent years. Nevertheless, optimization attempts were not based on any systematic approach (the only exception is the work [8] dedicated to numerical investigation of a GDT-based FNS for material testing). On the opposite, current research is focused on regular optimization of mirror trap parameters, while the numerical model used is adequate to the contemporary understanding of GDT physics. As for the GDMT concept, though a confinement approach being less reliable in terms of experimental validation is considered, estimating the capabilities of GDMT-based FNSs is instructive from the viewpoint of the assessment of the concept prospects. This work has been supported by Russian Science Foundation (project no. 14-50-00080). [1]. V. V. Mirnov, D. D. Ryutov, Soviet Technical Physics Letters, 5, 279–280 (1979) [2]. A. D. Beklemishev et al., Fusion Science and Technology, 63 (1T), 46–51 (2013) [3]. A. V. Burdakov et al., Fusion Science and Technology, 51 (2T), 106–111 (2007) [4]. A. D. Beklemishev, Fusion Science and Technology, 51 (2T), 180–182 (2007) [5]. R. Storn, K. Price, Journal of Global Optimization, 11 (4), 341–359 (1997) [6]. R. Hooke, T. A. Jeeves, Journal of the Association for Computing Machinery, 8 (2), 212–229 (1961) [7]. D. V. Yurov, V. V. Prikhodko, Yu. A. Tsidulko, Plasma Physics Reports, 42 (3), 210–225 [8]. I. A. Kotelnikov et al., Mathematical model of the GDT-based neutron source. Report INP 90-105, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk (1990), in Russian

Primary author

Mr Dmitry Yurov (Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics)

Co-authors

Dr Peter Bagryansky (Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics) Vadim Prikhodko (Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics)

Presentation Materials

Peer reviewing

Paper