Light for controlled fusion energy: A perspective on laser-driven inertial fusion

Abstract

The status of laser-driven inertial confinement fusion research is briefly reviewed. The recent major achievement of fusion energy release exceeding the energy delivered by the laser to the fuel (Hurricane O. et al., Nature, 506 (2014) 343), and the efforts towards ignition demonstration using indirect-drive are discussed. Physics model reliability is addressed. The potentials of alternative schemes, in particular direct-drive shock ignition, are also illustrated.

EPL for the IYL 2015

“…The study of condensed matter under extreme conditions planned at PETAL (Petawatt Aquitaine Laser), inaugurated last September at the CEA-CESTA Laser MegaJoule facility near Bordeaux [12], is being illustrated in a forthcoming IYL-PS by Dimitri Batani, anticipated however by an Editor's Choice EPL on shocked-compressed water [13]. There is great expectation from ultra-intense laser facilities for controlled inertial fusion: Stefano Atzeni reviews the state of the art in his IYL-PS [14], reporting on the recent breakthroughs and the potential of alternative schemes, in particular direct-drive shock ignition.…”

X-ray absorption radiography for high pressure shock wave studies

“…High power laser pulses can generate extreme matter states, known as warm dense matter (WDM) and hot dense matter (HDM), relevant, e.g., to material sciences, astrophysics and inertial confinement fusion [1][2][3][4]. Characterization of WDM and HDM requires the simultaneous use of several diagnostic techniques.…”