Particle simulation code for fusion ignition

Inertial fusion ignition phenomena including effects of non-Maxwellian ion velocity distributions are studied by molecular dynamics particle simulation. 10,000 DT ions at a density 100g/cm3 and temperature ∼10keV are followed for 10 to 20ps. The simulations include ion collisions, electron–ion coupling and radiation emission and absorption. Fusion reactions produce energetic alphas and the plasma self-heats to 20–30keV. It is found that calculations starting from a variety of initial conditions evolve to approach a unique self-heating trajectory which can be called an ignition attractor. A calculation starting with 3keV DT ignites within a few ps after 2MeV alpha particles are injected and deposit ∼300MJ/g; this demonstrates that fast ions are highly effective for fast ignition of precompressed DT.