Hybrid target design for IFE

A “hybrid” approach to direct drive inertial confinement fusion is being co-developed by private industry, the national labs, and academia [1,2]. The target and laser driver are designed to be compatible with a fusion power plant from the outset, and to also obviate a number of common concerns (e.g., infrared preheat, laser imprint, and hydrodynamic efficiency). We will discuss the rationale(s) for the hybrid target, the methods used to control implosion symmetry, and the expectations for gain as they relate to commercial energy.

^[1] C. Galloway and A. Valys, “IFE pilot plant with a low-cost, high-energy excimer driver and the HYLIFE concept,” Submitted to Office of Fusion Energy Science: DE-FOA-0002809 (2022).

^[2] C. Thomas et. al., “Hybrid direct drive with a two-sided ultraviolet laser”, Phys. Plasmas 31, 112708 (2024).