Single event laser fusion using ns-MJ laser pulses

Abstract

Studies of single-event laser-target interaction for fusion reaction schemes leading to volume ignition are discussed. Conditions were explored where single-event ns-laser pulses give rise to temperatures sufficient for volume ignition. Thus, ignition is possible, particularly if X-ray reabsorption is sufficiently high. Unfortunately, this scheme requires laser pulses with energies above 5 MJ and target densities of compressed DT above 1000 g/cm−3. Both requirements are quite demanding for near term systems. Nevertheless the present state technology and the detailed knowledge about volume ignition at direct drive are a basis. Systems as NIF or LMJ can well confirm these physics-clarified conditions and the technology for large laser systems with sufficient repetition rate and for a drastic reduction of the size and costs is necessary and possible and by physics similar to the known reductions in transistor development.

Volume ignition of 3He pellets

“…These evidences and some more researches at LLNL in Livermore, CA, and ILE in Rochester, NY, see Ref. [13], proved the advantages of volume compression and volume ignition of laserirradiated fusion pellets against spark ignition [14,15].…”

Ablation of nonlinear-force driven plasma blocks for fast igniter application

“…It has to be underlined that the rather low temperatures by the 2000 times compression are not the end of laser fusion. Based on volume ignition it was evaluated ( [34], see p. 6 of Ref. [22]) that this very robust and experimentally proved method should produce high gain laser fusion using few MJ-ns laser pulses and compression to few 1000 times solid density where the ignition temperature is less than keV such that the reaction can take place without any additional laser pulse.…”

Investigation on efficiency of non-collinear serial laser beam combination based on Brillouin amplification

“…Solid state lasers of high repetition rate, high power, and large energy may be widely applied in the domains of military, scientific research, and industry, such as inertial confinement fusion (Hoffmann et al, 2005;Miley et al, 2005), space optical communication and material processing (Thareja & Sharma, 2006;Veiko et al, 2006). However, because of the limitation of crystal growth technology, heat distortion, and damage threshold, the output of a single-laser apparatus is restricted.…”