Outlook for the ICF

This report presents the author`s perception of the future of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF)

Stochastic homogenization of the laser intensity to improve the irradiation uniformity of capsules directly driven by thousands laser beams

Illumination uniformity of a spherical capsule directly driven by laser beams has been assessed numerically. Laser facilities characterized by ND = 12, 20, 24, 32, 48 and 60 directions of irradiation with associated a single laser beam or a bundle of NB laser beams have been considered. The laser beam intensity profile is assumed super-Gaussian and the calculations take into account beam imperfections as power imbalance and pointing errors. The optimum laser intensity profile, which minimizes the root-mean-square deviation of the capsule illumination, depends on the values of the beam imperfections. Assuming that the NB beams are statistically independents is found that they provide a stochastic homogenization of the laser intensity associated to the whole bundle, reducing the errors associated to the whole bundle by the factor  , which in turn improves the illumination uniformity of the capsule. Moreover, it is found that the uniformity of the irradiation is almost the same for all facilities and only depends on the total number of laser beams Ntot = ND × NB

Inertial fusion: strategy and economic potential

Inertial fusion must demonstrate that the high target gains required for practical fusion energy can be achieved with driver energies not larger than a few megajoules. Before a multi-megajoule scale driver is constructed, inertial fusion must provide convincing experimental evidence that the required high target gains are feasible. This will be the principal objective of the NOVA laser experiments. Implosions will be conducted with scaled targets which are nearly hydrodynamically equivalent to the high gain target implosions. Experiments which demonstrate high target gains will be conducted in the early nineties when multi-megajoule drivers become available. Efficient drivers will also be demonstrated by this time period. Magnetic fusion may demonstrate high Q at about the same time as inertial fusion demonstrates high gain. Beyond demonstration of high performance fusion, economic considerations will predominate. Fusion energy will achieve full commercial success when it becomes cheaper than fission and coal. Analysis of the ultimate economic potential of inertial fusion suggests its costs may be reduced to half those of fission and coal. Relative cost escalation would increase this advantage. Fusions potential economic advantage derives from two fundamental properties: negligible fuel costs and high quality energy (which makes possible more efficient generation of electricity)

Scaling of exploding pusher targets

A theory of exploding pusher laser pusher targets is compared to results of LASNEX calculations and to Livermore experiments. A scaling relationship is described which predicts the optimum target/pulse combinations as a function of the laser power

Exploding pusher performance at fixed laser power, a theoretical model

A model for the physics of exploding pusher targets is presented which compares favorably with the predictions of the complex simulation code, LASNEX

Concerning the generation of very high pressures for EOS studies with ultra-high power laser pulses

The use of basic physical and geometric principles, coupled with current laser technology, seems likely to extend experimental hyperbaric physics investigations from the megabar region into the portions of parameter space in which the ideal (degenerate) Fermi gas approximation is valid for even the highest Z materials. Implosions and speed-multiplying rectilinear stacks of flat plates seem particularly apt techniques for the near-term, transient attainment of pressure of 10/sup 9/ atmospheres in the laboratory, and laser-energized pulsed x-ray ''cameras'' appear suitable for analyzing the basic properties of matter under such conditions

Exploding pusher targets for the SHIVA laser system

The first targets for the 20 TW SHIVA laser system were designed. They are simple glass micro-balloons, approximately 300 ..mu..m in diameter and 2 ..mu..m thick, filled with D-T gas. Using LASNEX, whose model physics was utilized successfully for ARGUS targets, we optimize for both gain and yield. The target behaves as an exploding pusher. Different simple analytic models for the physics of this mode are presented, and are tested by comparing their scaling predictions, at constant absorbed power, with those demonstrated by LASNEX. Emphasis is placed on successful prediction of the basic quantities of peak ion temperature and compression, rather than neutron yield or n tau