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The Potential of Fast Ignition and Related Experiments with A Petawatt Laser Facility

Conference ·
OSTI ID:792004
A model of energy gain induced by fast ignition of thermonuclear burn in compressed deuterium-tritium fuel, is used to show the potential for 300x gain with a driver energy of 1 M J, if the National Ignition Facility (NIF) were to be adapted for fast ignition. The physics of fast ignition has been studied using a petawatt laser facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Laser plasma interaction in a preformed plasma on a solid target leads to relativistic self-focusing evidenced by x-ray images. Absorption of the laser radiation transfers energy to an intense source of relativistic electrons. Good conversion efficiency into a wide angular distribution is reported. Heating by the electrons in solid density CD{sub 2} produces 0.5 to 1/keV temperature, inferred from the D-D thermo-nuclear neutron yield.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., Livermore, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
792004
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-138315
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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