Lawson criterion for ignition exceeded in an inertial fusion experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion

Radiation effects on phosphate glasses: Review

Glass and its properties are subject to a variety of changes under the influence of high energy radiation. Therefore, radiation-induced defects in glasses requires high attention due to the wide application of glasses in optics on board space craft, in image guides for reactor inspection, in optical fiber waveguide and in mobilization of high level radioactive waste, for example . In this paper, we present a mini review on radiation effects on phosphate glasses. We review the influence of various irradiation sources on the response of phosphate glasses, focusing on the advances over the past decades.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe