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LLL Laser Fusion Program (April - June 1971)

REPORT

1971 Jul 09

1996 Apr 18

OOL20100122

UCRL-ID-127848; CPL-71-16

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

2023 Jan 06

2026 Aug 21

This last quarter has shown progress in LLL's plans for putting the Laser Fusion Program on an orderly long term scientific, management, and facilities footing. The glass and gas laser options have been reviewed. The glass program has had its near and intermediate term goals determined and the appropriate assignments have been made. The gas program goals and assignments are still being discussed. The chemical laser program personnel are now in the process of reviewing their status and options. With regard to the best approach to attaining laser initiated implosions of targets, our current expectations are that we are likely to attain the 1000 joules in 1/10 nanoseconds lower limit conditions required to achieve interesting implosions sooner than we can get to 100 joules in 10 picoseconds (1/100 ns), which might also work. Our Long Path Laser is now oriented toward the achievement of these former conditions. From a review, held recently at LLL, it was evident that the AEC would have a difficult and time consuming task in implementing their goal of keeping private enterprise and AEC programs separated. In addition it was not obvious who the AEC would rely on for scientific advice and evaluation of commercial progress and proposals now that the design laboratories are no longer available to fulfill this function. It is interesting to note now that KMSF is staffing up to run at their planned for $\$$1M a month level that the combined LLL and LASL programs fall somewhat short of this level of effort. The nuclear design laboratories do however have a considerable reservoir of pertinent experience and tools and talent in the area of target (capsule) designs from which to draw.