ICF power plants, such as the LIFE scheme at LLNL, may employ a high-Z, target-chamber gas-fill to moderate the
first-wall heat-pulse due to x-rays and energetic ions released during target detonation.
To reduce the uncertainties of cooling and beam/target propagation through such gas-filled chambers, we present a
pulsed plasma source producing 2-5 eV plasma comprised of high-Z gases. We use a 5-kJ, 100-ns theta discharge for
high peak plasma-heating-power, an electrode-less discharge for minimizing impurities, and unobstructed axial access
for diagnostics and beam (and/or target) propagation studies. We will report on the plasma source requirements, design
process, and the system design.
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