Advanced methods for nuclear reactor gas laser coupling

Abstract

Research is described that lead to the discovery of three nuclearpumped lasers (NPLs) using mixtures of Ne-N ? , He-Hg, and He or Ne with CO or C0 2. The Ne-N ? NPL was the first laser obtained with modest neutron fluxes from a TRIGA reactor (vs fast burst reactors used elsewhere in such work), the He-Hg NPL was the first visible nuclear-pumped laser, while the Ne-CO and He-CO^ lasers are the first to provide energy storage on a millisecond time scale. Important potential applications of NPLs include coupling and power transmission from remote power stations such as nuclear plants in satellites and neutron-feedback operation of inertial confinement fusion plants. Final Report Approximately 100 technical reports and articles have resulted from this research. A listing is included in Appendix A and individual reports are referred to in the following discussion according to their report number, i.e., C00-2007-xx. As a result of this work, three nuclear pumped lasers have been developed. This represents one-quarter of the NPLs discovered to date. Research under this contract, initiated in January 1969, was concerned with the development of NPLs. When this work first began, the NPL was viewed as a technique to directly extract energy from a fission reactor. However, as the work progressed, it became apparent that other important applications might develop, e.g. neutron-feedback pumping for laser fusion reactors (see reports C00-2007-86 through 89). This research was first designed at gaining a better understanding of radiation-induced plasmas. This was viewed as a prerequisite for ultimate development of an NPL. Highlights of this phase of the work include: