Bubble Performs for Producing Glass Macroshells for Inertial Confinement Fusion Targets

Author

Simon C. P. Wang
D. E. Day, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

A technique is described for producing spherical gas bubbles in glass that can be used to make inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets. A glass rod containing a irregularly shaped hole is heated to a temperature where the glass viscosity is low enough so that surface tension forms a bubble from the hole. Bouyancy forces drive the bubble upward in the glass rod as it becomes increasingly spherical. At the proper time, the rising bubble is decelerated and brought to a gradual stop by increasing the glass viscosity by slowly reducing the temperature. With the present technique, 3- to 6-mm-diam spherical bubbles with a distortion of 0.3% have been produced in Corning 7740 and Schott BK-7 glasses. Glass macroshells can be formed from the bubbles trapped in the glass by grinding the outside surface concentric with the highly spherical inner surface. These glass shells, which possess a high degree of geometrical perfection, should be adequate for ICF targets.

Recommended Citation

S. C. Wang and D. E. Day, "Bubble Performs for Producing Glass Macroshells for Inertial Confinement Fusion Targets," Fusion Technology, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 427 - 438, American Nuclear Society, May 1990.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Flow of Fluids - Bubble Formation; Inertial Confinement Fusion; Nuclear Reactors, Fusion - Fuel Elements; Buoyancy Technique; Glass Macroshells; ICF Targets; Glass

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0748-1896

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1990 American Nuclear Society, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 May 1990