Direct Drive Laser Fusion Facility and Pilot Plant

Abstract

Direct-drive laser inertial fusion is a potential producer of baseline power that has increased credibility following the achievement at the National Ignition Facility of ignition and net gain using indirect-drive via laser-produced X-rays. Ultraviolet broad band lasers such as argon fluoride, at 193 nm and 10 THz, are predicted by hydrocode simulations to enable energy gains greater than 100 with laser energies less than 0.5 MJ, stimulating renewed reactor design effort in anticipation of experimental verification. The present study attempts to create a reactor design with very few unknowns in materials, corrosion, first wall viability, tritium breeding and ease of servicing. A new variant of magnetic intervention has an increased ion dump surface area combined with a simple structure. Around an inner vacuum vessel an all-ceramic tritium breeder blanket is possible in an unconstrained volume, allowing helium coolant to be used without excessive pressure or flow power. The case is made for development of a lead (Pb) ceramic as the neutron multiplier.