Fast Ignitor coupling physics

Conference · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:658396

Mason, R J ^[1]; Tabak, M ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)

The Fast Ignitor is an alternate approach to ICF in which short pulse lasers are used to initiate burn at the surface of the compressed DT fuel. The aim is to avoid the need for careful central focusing of final shocks, and possibly to lower substantially the energy requirements for ignition. Ultimately, both goals may prove crucial to Science Based Stockpile Stewardship (SBSS). This will be the case should either emerging energetic needs, or finding difficulties render the presently planned radiative fusion approach to ignition with the NIF impractical. Ignition is a first step towards the achievement of substantial energy and neutron outputs for such Stewardship.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 658396
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--98-188; CONF-971082--; ON: DE98005281
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ICF DEVICES
LASER TARGETS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PLASMA HEATING
PONDEROMOTIVE FORCE
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION