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A Shock-Augmented approach to Laser Inertial Fusion

ORAL

Abstract

Shock ignition1 enables high gain at low implosion velocity, easing the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability which degrades conventional direct drive. With this method, driving a strong shock requires high laser power and intensity, resulting in inefficiencies in the drive and the generation of hot electrons that can preheat the fuel. A new ‘shock-augmented ignition’ pulse-shape2 is described which, by launching a strong shock, enables the shock-ignition of thermonuclear fuel, but with substantially reduced laser power and intensity requirements. The reduced intensity requirement with respect to shock-ignition limits laser-plasma instabilities, such as Stimulated Raman and Brillouin Scatter, reducing the risk of hot-electron pre-heat and restoring the laser coupling advantages of conventional direct drive. Simulations indicate that, due to the reduced power requirements, high gain (~100) ignition of large-scale direct drive implosions is possible within the power and energy limits of existing facilities such as the National Ignition Facility. Moreover, this concept extends to indirect drive implosions, which exhibit substantial yield increases at reduced implosion velocity. Shock-augmented ignition expands the viable ignition design-space of laser inertial fusion.

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Publication: 1 Betti et al., Physical Review Letters, 98, 155001 (2007).<br>2 Scott et al., under review, (2021).

Presenters

  • Robbie H Scott

    Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Lab, Central Laser Facility, RAL, STFC, Central Laser Facility

Authors

  • Robbie H Scott

    Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Lab, Central Laser Facility, RAL, STFC, Central Laser Facility

  • Duncan Barlow

    STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

  • William T Trickey

    York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, University of York, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics

  • Alessandro Ruocco

    STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

  • Kevin Glize

    Rutherford Appleton Lab

  • Luca Antonelli

    York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York., University of York

  • Matthew Khan

    York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York.

  • Wolfgang R Theobald

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Lab for Laser Energetics

  • Roberto C Mancini

    University of Nevada, Reno

  • Nigel C Woolsey

    York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, University of York

  • Jason Clapp

    University of Reno