Development of Electron Beam Pumped KrF Lasers for Fusion Energy
Abstract
Direct drive with krypton fluoride (KrF) lasers is an attractive approach to inertial fusion energy (IFE): KrF lasers have outstanding beam spatial uniformity, which reduces the seed for hydrodynamic instabilities; they have short wavelength (248 nm) that increases the rocket efficiency and raises the threshold for deleterious laser-plasma instabilities; they have the capability for zooming , i.e. decreasing the spot size to follow an imploding pellet and thereby increase efficiency; and they have a modular architecture, which reduces development costs. Numerical 1-D simulations have shown that a target driven by a KrF laser can have a gain above 125 [1,2], which is ample for a fusion system. Simulations of the pellet burn in 2-D and 3-D are underway. In addition to these laser-target advantages, the Sombrero Power Plant study showed a KrF based system could lead to an economically attractive power plant [3]. In view of these advances, several world-wide programs are underway to develop KrF lasers for fusion energy. These include programs in Japan [4, 5], China [6], Russia [7], and The United Kingdom [8]. There was also a large program in the United States [9]. The paper here concentrates on current research in the US with two lasers at the Naval Research Laboratory: The Electra laser [10] is a 400-700 J repetitively pulsed system that is being used to develop the technologies that meet the fusion requirements for rep-rate, durability, efficiency and cost. The Nike laser [11] is a 3-5 kJ single shot device that is used to study KrF issues with full-scale electron beam diodes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA480476
Entities
People
- Frank Hegeler
- J. L. Giuliani
- John D. Sethian
- M. Myers
- M. Wolford
- Michael A. Friedman
- P. Kepple
- R. H. Lehmberg
- S. B. Swanekamp
- Stephen P.P. Obenschain
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory