Present Status and Future Prospects of Laser Fusion and Related High Energy Density Plasma Research

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2004 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1843522· OSTI ID:20630454

Mima, Kunioki ^[1]

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1. Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita , Osaka, 565-0871 (Japan)

The present status and future prospects of the laser fusion research and related laser plasma physics are reviewed. In laser fusion research, giant lasers for ignition and burn by imploding DT fuel pellets are under construction at LLNL (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) and CEA, France. In Japan , the Gekko XII and the Peta Watt laser system have been operated to investigate the implosion hydrodynamics, fast ignition, and the relativistic laser plasma interactions and a new project; FIREX( Fast Ignition Realization Experiment) had started toward the ignition and burn at the Institute of laser Engineering of Osaka University. Recently, heating experiments with cone shell target have been carried out. The thermal neutron yield is found to increase by three orders of magnitude by the peta watt laser injection to the cone shell target. The FIREX-I is planned according to this experimental results, where multi 10kJ peta watt laser is used to heat compressed DT fuel to the ignition temperature. The FIREX-II will follow for demonstrating ignition and burn, in which the implosion laser and heating laser are up-graded.

• OSTI ID: 20630454
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 740; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
D-T OPERATION
ENERGY DENSITY
FUEL PELLETS
HYDRODYNAMICS
LASER IMPLOSIONS
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA HEATING
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
THERMAL NEUTRONS
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS