Direct-Drive Laser Fusion; Status and Prospects

Abstract

Techniques have been developed to improve the uniformity of the laser focal profile to reduce the ablative Rayleigh Taylor instability, and to suppress the various laser plasma instabilities. There are now three ignition target design concepts that utilize these techniques. Evaluation of these designs is still ongoing. Some of them may achieve the gains above 100 that are necessary for a fusion reactor. Two laser systems have been proposed that may meet all of the requirements for a fusion reactor.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 13, 1998
Accession Number
ADA339944

Entities

People

  • Andrew J. Schmitt
  • John D. Sethian
  • Robert H. Lehmberg
  • S. P. Obenschain
  • Stephen E. Bodner

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Diffraction
  • Distortion
  • Energy
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Ignition
  • Krypton Fluoride Lasers
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Diodes
  • Lasers
  • Light (Electromagnetic Radiation)
  • Optics
  • Repetition Rate
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy