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Title: Laser–plasma interactions for fast ignition

Abstract

In the electron-driven fast-ignition approach to inertial confinement fusion, petawatt laser pulses are required to generate MeV electrons that deposit several tens of kilojoules in the compressed core of an imploded DT shell. We review recent progress in the understanding of intense laser- plasma interactions (LPI) relevant to fast ignition. Increases in computational and modeling capabilities, as well as algorithmic developments have led to enhancement in our ability to perform multidimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of LPI at relevant scales. We discuss the physics of the interaction in terms of laser absorption fraction, the laser-generated electron spectra, divergence, and their temporal evolution. Scaling with irradiation conditions such as laser intensity, f-number and wavelength are considered, as well as the dependence on plasma parameters. Different numerical modeling approaches and configurations are addressed, providing an overview of the modeling capabilities and limitations. In addition, we discuss the comparison of simulation results with experimental observables. In particular, we address the question of surrogacy of today's experiments for the full-scale fast ignition problem.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [1];  [6];  [7]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Inst. of Superior Tecnico (IST), Lisbon (Portugal)
  3. Univ. Politecnica de Madrid (Spain)
  4. Hiroshima Univ. (Japan). The Graduate School of Engineering
  5. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
  6. Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States)
  7. Inst. of Superior Tecnico (IST), Lisbon (Portugal)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1240067
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-626438
Journal ID: ISSN 0029-5515; TRN: US1600618
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nuclear Fusion
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 54; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 0029-5515
Publisher:
IOP Science
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION

Citation Formats

Kemp, A. J., Fiuza, F., Debayle, A., Johzaki, T., Mori, W. B., Patel, P. K., Sentoku, Y., and Silva, L. O. Laser–plasma interactions for fast ignition. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0029-5515/54/5/054002.
Kemp, A. J., Fiuza, F., Debayle, A., Johzaki, T., Mori, W. B., Patel, P. K., Sentoku, Y., & Silva, L. O. Laser–plasma interactions for fast ignition. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/54/5/054002
Kemp, A. J., Fiuza, F., Debayle, A., Johzaki, T., Mori, W. B., Patel, P. K., Sentoku, Y., and Silva, L. O. 2014. "Laser–plasma interactions for fast ignition". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/54/5/054002. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1240067.
@article{osti_1240067,
title = {Laser–plasma interactions for fast ignition},
author = {Kemp, A. J. and Fiuza, F. and Debayle, A. and Johzaki, T. and Mori, W. B. and Patel, P. K. and Sentoku, Y. and Silva, L. O.},
abstractNote = {In the electron-driven fast-ignition approach to inertial confinement fusion, petawatt laser pulses are required to generate MeV electrons that deposit several tens of kilojoules in the compressed core of an imploded DT shell. We review recent progress in the understanding of intense laser- plasma interactions (LPI) relevant to fast ignition. Increases in computational and modeling capabilities, as well as algorithmic developments have led to enhancement in our ability to perform multidimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of LPI at relevant scales. We discuss the physics of the interaction in terms of laser absorption fraction, the laser-generated electron spectra, divergence, and their temporal evolution. Scaling with irradiation conditions such as laser intensity, f-number and wavelength are considered, as well as the dependence on plasma parameters. Different numerical modeling approaches and configurations are addressed, providing an overview of the modeling capabilities and limitations. In addition, we discuss the comparison of simulation results with experimental observables. In particular, we address the question of surrogacy of today's experiments for the full-scale fast ignition problem.},
doi = {10.1088/0029-5515/54/5/054002},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1240067}, journal = {Nuclear Fusion},
issn = {0029-5515},
number = 5,
volume = 54,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}

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Cited by: 51 works
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