Parabolic lithium mirror for a laser-driven hot plasma producing device

Patent · Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:863374

Baird, James K ^[1]

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1. Clinton, TN

A hot plasma producing device is provided, wherein pellets, singly injected, of frozen fuel are each ignited with a plurality of pulsed laser beams. Ignition takes place within a void area in liquid lithium contained within a pressure vessel. The void in the liquid lithium is created by rotating the pressure vessel such that the free liquid surface of molten lithium therein forms a paraboloid of revolution. The paraboloid functions as a laser mirror with a reflectivity greater than 90%. A hot plasma is produced when each of the frozen deuterium-tritium pellets sequentially arrive at the paraboloid focus, at which time each pellet is illuminated by the plurality of pulsed lasers whose rays pass through circular annuli across the top of the paraboloid. The beams from the lasers are respectively directed by associated mirrors, or by means of a single conical mirror in another embodiment, and by the mirror-like paraboloid formed by the rotating liquid lithium onto the fuel pellet such that the optical flux reaching the pellet can be made to be uniform over 96% of the pellet surface area. The very hot plasma produced by the action of the lasers on the respective singly injected fuel pellets in turn produces a copious quantity of neutrons and X-rays such that the device has utility as a neutron source or as an x-ray source. In addition, the neutrons produced in the device may be utilized to produce tritium in a lithium blanket and is thus a mechanism for producing tritium.

• Research Organization: Energy Research and Development Administration
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4158598
• Application Number: 05/695,661
• OSTI ID: 863374
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

parabolic
lithium
mirror
laser-driven
hot
plasma
producing
device
provided
pellets
singly
injected
frozen
fuel
ignited
plurality
pulsed
laser
beams
ignition
takes
void
liquid
contained
pressure
vessel
created
rotating
free
surface
molten
therein
forms
paraboloid
revolution
functions
reflectivity
90
produced
deuterium-tritium
sequentially
arrive
focus
time
pellet
illuminated
lasers
rays
pass
circular
annuli
top
respectively
directed
associated
mirrors
means
single
conical
embodiment
mirror-like
formed
optical
flux
reaching
uniform
96
action
respective
produces
copious
quantity
neutrons
x-rays
utility
neutron
source
x-ray
addition
utilized
produce
tritium
blanket
mechanism
hot plasma
plasma produced
neutrons produced
pulsed lasers
fuel pellet
liquid lithium
fuel pellets
molten lithium
x-ray source
laser beams
pressure vessel
laser beam
pulsed laser
neutron source
plasma producing
producing device
producing tritium
free liquid
rotating liquid
lithium blanket
liquid surface
frozen fuel
injected fuel
therein form
rays pass
laser mirror
/376/976/