Inertial Fusion Program. Progress report, July 1-December 31, 1979

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5570078· OSTI ID:5570078

Skoberne, F. ^[1]

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1. comp.

Progress in the development of high-energy short-pulse CO/sub 2/ laser systems for fusion research is reported. Improvements in the Los Alamos National Laboratory eight-beam Helios system are described. These improvements increased the reliability of the laser and permitted the firing of 290 shots, most of which delivered energies of approximately 8 kJ to the target. Modifications to Gemini are outlined, including the installation of a new target-insertion mechanism. The redirection of the Antares program is discussed in detail, which will achieve a total energy of approximatey 40 kJ with two beams. This redirection will bring Antares on-line almost two years earlier than was possible with the full six-beam system, although at a lower energy. Experiments with isentropically imploded Sirius-B targets are discussed, and x-ray radiation-loss data from gold microballoons are presented, which show that these results are essentially identical with those obtained at glass-laser wavelengths. Significant progress in characterizing laser fusion targets is reported. New processes for fabricating glass miroballoon x-ray diagnostic targets, the application of high-quality metallic coatings, and the deposition of thick plastic coatings are described. Results in the development of x-ray diagnostics are reported, and research in the Los Alamos heavy-ion fusion program is summarized. Results of investigations of phase-conjugation research of gaseous saturable absorbers and of the use of alkali-halide crystals in a new class of saturable absorbers are summarized. New containment-vessel concepts for Inertial Confinement Fusion reactors are discussed, and results of a scoping study of four fusion-fission hybrid concepts are presented.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5570078
• Report Number(s): LA-8511-PR; ON: DE82007361
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
ANTARES FACILITY
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
COATINGS
GAS LASERS
HELIOS FACILITY
LASER FUSION REACTORS
LASER TARGETS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPECTRA
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
X-RAY SPECTRA