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Direct-drive laser target designs for sub-megajoule energies

Phys. Plasmas 14, 056317 (2007); doi:10.1063/1.2730503

Published 18 May 2007

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D. G. Colombant, A. J. Schmitt, S. P. Obenschain, S. T. Zalesak, A. L. Velikovich, and J. W. Bates
Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

D. E. Fyfe
LCP&FD, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

J. H. Gardner
BRA, Springfield, Virginia

W. Manheimer
RSI, Lanham, Maryland 20706
New direct-drive laser target designs with KrF laser light take advantage of the shorter wavelength to lower the laser energy required for substantial gain (>30×) to sub-MJ level. These low laser-energy pellets are useful in systems that could form an intermediate step towards fusion energy, such as the proposed Fusion Test Facility [S. P. Obenschain et al., Phys. Plasmas 13, 056320 (2006)]. The short wavelength laser should allow higher intensity (and higher pressure) without increasing the risk of laser-plasma instabilities. The higher pressure in turn allows higher velocities to be achieved while keeping the low aspect ratios required for hydrodynamic stability. The canonical laser energy has been chosen to be 500  kJ. A target design is presented with various laser pulse shapes and both 1D and 2D simulation results are shown. The sensitivity of these targets to both low-mode and high-mode perturbations is examined. The analysis and simulations in this paper indicate that significant gain (G=57) can be achieved for these targets even in the presence of hydrodynamic instabilities. ©2007 American Institute of Physics
History: Received 13 November 2006; accepted 20 February 2007; published 18 May 2007
Permalink: http://link.aip.org/link/?PHPAEN/14/056317/1

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords
PACS
  • 52.57.Bc
    Target design and fabrication for laser ICF
  • 52.57.Fg
    Implosion symmetry and hydrodynamic instability for laser ICF including Rayleigh-Taylor, Richtmyer-Meshkov, imprint, etc
  • 52.35.Py
    Plasma macroinstabilities (hydromagnetic) e.g., kink, fire-hose, mirror, ballooning, tearing, trapped-particle, flute, Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities, etc
  • 28.52.Cx
    Fusion reactor fueling, heating and ignition
  • 28.52.Av
    Fusion reactor theory, design, and computerized simulation
  • 28.52.Fa
    Fusion reactor materials
  • YEAR: 2007

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PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:
1070-664X (print)   1089-7674 (online)
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REFERENCES (22)
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