The path to electrical energy using laser fusion

Bodner, S. E.

doi:10.1017/hpl.2019.51

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The above experiment was conducted using the indirect-drive (ID) approach [2]. However, the direct-drive (DD) approach [3] may have advantages with respect to ID [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observation and modelling of stimulated Raman scattering driven by an optically smoothed laser beam in experimental conditions relevant for shock ignition

Cristoforetti

Hüller

Koester

et al. 2021

High Pow Laser Sci Eng

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We report results and modelling of an experiment performed at the TAW Vulcan laser facility, aimed at investigating laser-plasma interaction in conditions which are of interest for the Shock Ignition scheme to Inertial Confinement Fusion, i.e. laser intensity higher than 10 16 W/cm 2 impinging on a hot (T > 1 keV), inhomogeneous and long scalelength preformed plasma. Measurements show a significant SRS backscattering (∼ 4 − 20% of laser energy) driven at low plasma densities and no signatures of TPD/SRS driven at the quarter critical density region. Results are satisfactorily reproduced by an analytical model accounting for the convective SRS growth in independent laser speckles, in conditions where the reflectivity is dominated by the contribution from the most intense speckles, where SRS gets saturated. Analytical and kinetic simulations well reproduce the onset of SRS at low plasma densities in a regime strongly affected by non linear Landau damping and by filamentation of the most intense laser speckles. The absence of TPD/SRS at higher densities is explained by pump depletion and plasma smoothing driven by filamentation. The prevalence of laser coupling in the low density profile justifies the low temperature measured for hot electrons (7 − 12 keV), well reproduced by numerical simulations.

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“…The above experiment was conducted using the indirect-drive (ID) approach [2]. However, the direct-drive (DD) approach [3] may have advantages with respect to ID [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observation and modelling of stimulated Raman scattering driven by an optically smoothed laser beam in experimental conditions relevant for shock ignition

Cristoforetti

Hüller

Koester

et al. 2021

High Pow Laser Sci Eng

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“…An aggressive strategy should be built again at the European level with fusion energy and groundbreaking science at the heart of the project. Furthermore, another path than glass lasers with limited bandwidth for optical smoothing should be explored [190].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent progress in quantifying hydrodynamics instabilities and turbulence in inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density experiments

Casner

2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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Since the seminal paper of Nuckolls triggering the quest of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) with lasers, hydrodynamic instabilities have been recognized as one of the principal hurdles towards ignition. This remains true nowadays for both main approaches (indirect drive and direct drive), despite the advent of MJ scale lasers with tremendous technological capabilities. From a fundamental science perspective, these gigantic laser facilities enable also the possibility to create dense plasma flows evolving towards turbulence, being magnetized or not. We review the state of the art of nonlinear hydrodynamics and turbulent experiments, simulations and theory in ICF and high-energy-density plasmas and draw perspectives towards in-depth understanding and control of these fascinating phenomena. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)’.

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“…For example, the period of operation between maintenance for the electron beam diode, pulsed power and optical components would need to be extended from the thousands of shots that is adequate for laser target interaction research lasers, to over 300 million if one wants to operate continuously for over a year at 10 pulses per second. A summary of technical challenges to direct-drive laser IFE systems is provided in reference [34]. ArF is a promising technology for achieving the high-gain inertial fusion implosions needed for energy [35].…”

Section: Development Path To Argon Fluoride Direct-drive Inertial Fusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct drive with the argon fluoride laser as a path to high fusion gain with sub-megajoule laser energy

Obenschain

Schmitt

Bates

et al. 2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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Argon fluoride (ArF) is currently the shortest wavelength laser that can credibly scale to the energy and power required for high gain inertial fusion. ArF's deep ultraviolet light and capability to provide much wider bandwidth than other contemporary inertial confinement fusion (ICF) laser drivers would drastically improve the laser target coupling efficiency and enable substantially higher pressures to drive an implosion. Our radiation hydrodynamics simulations indicate gains greater than 100 are feasible with a sub-megajoule ArF driver. Our laser kinetics simulations indicate that the electron beam-pumped ArF laser can have intrinsic efficiencies of more than 16%, versus about 12% for the next most efficient krypton fluoride excimer laser. We expect at least 10% ‘wall plug' efficiency for delivering ArF light to target should be achievable using solid-state pulsed power and efficient electron beam transport to the laser gas that was demonstrated with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Electra facility. These advantages could enable the development of modest size and lower cost fusion power plant modules. This would drastically change the present view on inertial fusion energy as being too expensive and the power plant size too large. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 1)'.

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The path to electrical energy using laser fusion

Cited by 12 publications

References 27 publications

Observation and modelling of stimulated Raman scattering driven by an optically smoothed laser beam in experimental conditions relevant for shock ignition

Observation and modelling of stimulated Raman scattering driven by an optically smoothed laser beam in experimental conditions relevant for shock ignition

Recent progress in quantifying hydrodynamics instabilities and turbulence in inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density experiments

Direct drive with the argon fluoride laser as a path to high fusion gain with sub-megajoule laser energy

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