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Direct-drive laser fusion: status, plans and future
E M Campbell1, T C Sangster1, V N Goncharov1
1Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA.
Summary
Laser-direct drive (LDD) is a key inertial confinement fusion approach. Research at Omega and NIF facilities advances LDD for achieving laboratory fusion ignition and gain.
Area of Science:
- Fusion Energy Research
- Plasma Physics
- Laser-Ablation Dynamics
Background:
- Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) relies on three primary approaches: laser indirect (X-ray) drive (LID), magnetic drive with pulsed power, and laser-direct drive (LDD).
- LDD is actively pursued at the Omega Laser Facility and the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the current status and future plans for Laser-direct drive research.
- To outline the progress toward achieving laboratory-based fusion ignition and gain using LDD.
Main Methods:
- Conducting cryogenic implosions and fundamental physics experiments at the Omega Laser Facility.
- Investigating energy coupling and laser-plasma interactions at ignition-scale plasmas on the NIF.
- Performing limited 'polar-drive' implosions on the NIF.
Main Results:
- LDD research encompasses cryogenic implosions, material properties, hydrodynamics, and laser-plasma interactions.
- NIF research focuses on energy coupling and laser-plasma interactions in ignition-scale plasmas.
- Research spans a wide range of energy, power, and scale sizes, mitigating scaling risks.
Conclusions:
- The combined research at Omega and NIF provides a robust platform for LDD development.
- Continued LDD research aims to achieve a burning plasma in a laboratory setting.
- This work contributes to the broader goal of high-gain inertial fusion energy.
