Dense Plasmas in the Laboratory
Typical trajectory of fuel (DT gas) and ablator (CH) elements in the temperature-density plane from initial to final conditions.
Different approaches for inertial confinement fusion are being explored
Laser Direct Drive
In a direct-drive target, powerful laser beams strike directly on the fuel capsule.
Laser Indirect Drive
In an indirect-drive target, powerful lasers strike the inner surface of a hollow chamber (the “hohlraum”) that surrounds the fuel capsule, exciting X-rays that transfer energy to the fuel capsule.
Laser-Driven Fast Ignition
In laser-driven fast ignition, the target is compressed to high density with a low implosion velocity and then ignited by a short, high-energy pulse of electrons or ions induced by a very short (a few picoseconds), high-power laser pulse.
Pulsed-Power Drive
Pulsed-power-driven inertial fusion utilizes large electric current from a pulsed-power accelerator to generate sufficiently high magnetic field pressures to compress and heat magnetized, pre-ionized fusion fuel contained in a cylindrical target to ignition conditions. One promising conceptual approach along these lines is the Magnetized Linear Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) experiment on the Z-machine at Sandia National Laboratories, which involves magnetic implosion of magnetized, laser-preheated fusion fuel on a fast (~100 ns) time-scale.
- An assessment of the progress of inertial confinement fusion (The National Academy Press, 2013) is accessible here.
- S. Atzeni and J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, The Physics of Inertial Fusion: BeamPlasma Interaction, Hydrodynamics, Hot Dense Matter (Oxford University Press, 2004).
- Highlights on MagLif: http://physics.aps.org/articles/v7/105.