The energy leakage probability of charged particles from an ICF pellet has been estimated earlier using a small angle binary collision approximation for Coulomb scattering from electrons and ions. While this is the most predominant energy loss mechanism, elastic nuclear scattering is important for high density pellets at higher temperatures. In this paper, we generalize the calculation of energy leakage probability to include nuclear scattering, large angle Coulomb scattering and collective plasma effects. In general, these effects reduce the thermalization distance in the plasma and increase the fraction of energy deposited to ions. We also develop a simple approach for energy deposition by neutrons due to nuclear interaction with the ions. The same model is then used to re-evaluate the concept of internal tritium breeding in high density ICF pellets. It is found that tritium breeding improves significantly in comparison with earlier estimates.
The effect of thermo-electric forces on the density profiles in a thermonuclear plasma surrounded by a cold blanket
Proton–triton nuclear reaction in ICRF heated plasmas in JET