Improved use of big laser systems for inertial fusion energy

Abstract

The big lasers for inertial fusion (NIF or LMJ) may be used with 2 to 3 times larger pulse energy if instead of the third harmonics, the fundamental wavelength is applied. A necessary condition especially for direct drive is then to suppress the stochastic (15 ps) pulsation of the interaction as the basic obstacle of anomalous interaction. The experiments by Maddever and the numerical analysis using the genuine two-fluid model resulted in the knowledge that appropriate application of smoothing is necessary to suppress primarily the pulsation and, to a lesser extent, the self-focusing and filamentation. With these larger laser pulses, fusion gains of 35 and above can be reached suing the very uncomplicated and robust volume ignition.