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Laser-Based Inertial Confinement Fusion

Laser-Based Inertial Confinement Fusion. Alex Hedash Kevin Lin Harshit Patel Dan T oohey. Introduction. What is fusion and what is inertial confinement fusion? Combining two or more light nuclei into one nucleus Requirements for successful fusion:

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Laser-Based Inertial Confinement Fusion

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  1. Laser-Based Inertial Confinement Fusion Alex Hedash Kevin Lin Harshit Patel Dan Toohey

  2. Introduction • What is fusion and what is inertial confinement fusion? • Combining two or more light nuclei into one nucleus • Requirements for successful fusion: • High pressures, high temperatures, and rapidity • Why lasers? • Low power requirements • More control • Goals of laser-based ICF: • Ignition, efficient power generation, accurate simulation

  3. Laser-Based ICF Process • Generate single pulse • Divide pulse into beamlets • Amplify the light • Focus, clean and switch the light • Convert into usable form of light • Hitting the target

  4. The Target • Fuel capsule • Only need 10mg of fuel • Energy equivalent to one barrel of oil • Direct-drive vs. indirect drive • Direct drive impinges directly on the capsule • Indirect drive aims at the walls of the hohlraum • Hohlraum • Distributes X-rays around the fuel capsule evenly • Ensures stability

  5. History of Laser-based ICF • Single beam designs: • Ruby lasers produce visible light • Failed to achieve ignition • Multi-beam designs • Small-scale • Large-scale • Today • National Ignition Facility and Laser Mégajoule

  6. NIF and Laser Mégajoule • More beamlines than predecessors • NIF has 192 beamlines • Laser Mégajoule has 240 beamlines • Larger target chambers, longer paths, and greater power • NIF • Target chamber diameter is 10 meters • 400 MJ of energy which can light 100W light bulb for 1.5 months • Laser Mégajoule • 450MJ of energy released as 500TW burst • Expended in a few picoseconds

  7. Future Plans • Understand major process components • Fundamental differences between NIF and Laser Mégajoule • Potential practical uses • Generation of clean energy • Is it feasible? • Nuclear weapon testing • Controversy surrounding testing

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