Double 3 MJ dense plasma focus for thermonuclear drive inertial confinement fusion
Nuclear fusion remains one of the most promising solutions for clean and sustainable energy production. However, significant challenges-including energy losses, plasma instabilities, and high operational costs-continue to hinder its practical realization. While magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) and inertial confinement fusion (ICF) have been the dominant approaches, dense plasma focus (DPF) devices present a compact and high-performance alternative. This study introduces a novel double-DPF system, employing two coaxial DPF devices to compress and accelerate deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel pellets, leading to enhanced energy transfer and ignition conditions. By integrating high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic field lenses, the proposed system significantly improves plasma confinement, suppresses turbulence, and enhances fusion efficiency. Key physical processes-including pinch dynamics, confinement time enhancement, preheating mechanisms, and neutron yield estimations-are rigorously analyzed through magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models and numerical simulations. Theoretical results suggest that HTS-assisted double-DPF operation triples the fusion power output compared to conventional single-DPF configurations. Furthermore, optimized energy coupling between the plasma and the DT target enhances the probability of achieving ignition conditions. This work provides a systematic theoretical framework that lays the foundation for future laboratory validation. While further experimental and engineering studies are necessary, the double-DPF concept represents a scalable and efficient pathway toward controlled thermonuclear fusion. By addressing confinement and energy transfer limitations, this study contributes to the ongoing pursuit of practical fusion-based energy generation.
Authors
- H. Sadeghi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5771-769X)
- S. Fazelpour
- S. M. Sadat Kiai
- S. Adlparvar
Institutions
- Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (IR)
- Islamic Azad University North Tehran Branch (IR)
- Yahoo (Spain) (ES)
- Iran Khodro (Iran) (IR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-04-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96736-7
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.87