This paper presents our conceptual design for laser drivers used in Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) power plants. Although we have used only modest extensions of existing laser technology to en...

Compact, Efficient Laser Systems Required for Laser Inertial Fusion Energy

We present the results of performance modeling of diode-pumped solid state laser beamlines designed for use in Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) power plants. Our modeling quantifies the efficiency increases that can be obtained by increasing peak diode power and reducing pump-pulse duration, to reduce decay losses. At the same efficiency, beamlines that use laser slabs of Yb:YAG or Yb:S-FAP require lower diode power than beamlines that use laser slabs of Nd:phosphate glass, since Yb:YAG and Yb:S-FAP have longer storage lifetimes. Beamlines using Yb:YAG attain their highest efficiency at a temperature of about 200K. Beamlines using Nd:phosphate glass or Yb:S-FAP attain high efficiency at or near room temperature.

Comparison of Nd:phosphate glass, Yb:YAG and Yb:S-FAP laser beamlines for laser inertial fusion energy (LIFE) [Invited]

The European laser fusion project HiPER is developing technologically feasible components for a laser fusion power plant with an evacuated dry wall chamber which is likely to operate with a shock ignition scheme and direct targets. One of the key components is the final optics. In this work, we consider silica transmission final lenses and address the major issues regarding the unavoidable neutron irradiation they must withstand. For pre-commercial power plants (150?MJ target yield at 10?Hz) a distance of 16?m between the final lenses and target leads to maximum lens temperatures within tolerable limits. However, a non-uniform steady-state temperature profile is a major concern because it is the origin of unacceptable aberrations that severely affect the target spots. We have devised an active intervention system based on a heat-transfer fluid to keep the temperature profile as smooth as possible. The main characteristics of the temperature control system are defined throughout this work and enable the operation of the plant, both for the start-up procedure and for normal operation.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0029-5515/54/12/123019/pdf

Transmission final lenses in the HiPER laser fusion power plant: system design for temperature control

The energy produced from the controlled thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes can replace fossil fuels and become a sustainable energy source. The fusion of deuterium and tritium has been achieved in several experimental reactors where the plasmas are confined with magnetic fields and there is high optimism that this will also be achieved with laser and ion beams. The plasma confinements and reactor technologies of tokamaks and stellarators are paving the way for building demonstration fusion reactors and subsequently commercial fusion power plants. Following a review of the magnetic and inertial plasma confinement concepts, the reactor technologies that implement these concepts are assessed for producing sustained plasma ignition, external plasma heating, control of plasma instabilities, developments of low-activation and high strength materials, coolants for removing fusion energy from the reactor, and breeding tritium in the blanket of the reactor for achieving fuel self-sufficiency. Sustainability of fusion energy requires the long-term availability of fusion fuels and reactor components materials, social acceptability, minimization of waste products, and safe operation of fusion power plants. These and other issues considered strongly suggest that the fusion energy will become a viable energy source for human development.


Keywords:

fusion energy;
fusion reactions;
plasma confinement;
fusion reactor technology;
magnetic confinement fusion

Fusion Energy Harnessing, Reactor Technology, and Sustainability

The National Ignition Facility (NIF), a 1.8-MJ/500-TW Nd:Glass laser facility designed to study inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and high-energy-density science (HEDS), is operational at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). A primary goal of NIF is to create the conditions necessary to demonstrate laboratory-scale thermonuclear ignition and burn. NIF experiments in support of indirect-drive ignition began late in FY2009 as part of the National Ignition Campaign (NIC), an international effort to achieve fusion ignition in the laboratory. To date, all of the capabilities to conduct implosion experiments are in place with the goal of demonstrating ignition and developing a predictable fusion experimental platform in 2012. The results from experiments completed are encouraging for the near-term achievement of ignition. Capsule implosion experiments at energies up to 1.6 MJ have demonstrated laser energetics, radiation temperatures, and symmetry control that scale to ignition conditions. Of particular importance is the demonstration of peak hohlraum temperatures near 300 eV with overall backscatter less than 15%. Important national security and basic science experiments have also been conducted on NIF. Successful demonstration of ignition and net energy gain on NIF will be a major step towards demonstrating the feasibility of laser-driven Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE). This paper will describe the results achieved so far on the path toward ignition, the beginning of fundamental science experiments and the plans to transition NIF to an international user facility providing access to HEDS and fusion energy researchers around the world.

/pdf/the-nif-an-international-high-energy-density-science-and-xn7avy8hy4.pdf

The NIF: An international high energy density science and inertial fusion user facility

The Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) concept is being designed to operate as either a pure fusion or hybrid fusion-fission system. The present work focuses on the pure fusion option. A key component of a LIFE engine is the fusion chamber subsystem. It must absorb the fusion energy, produce fusion fuel to replace that burned in previous targets, and enable both target and laser beam transport to the ignition point. The chamber system also must mitigate target emissions, including ions, x-rays and neutrons and reset itself to enable operation at 10-15 Hz. Finally, the chamber must offer a high level of availability, which implies both a reasonable lifetime and the ability to rapidly replace damaged components. An integrated design that meets all of these requirements is described herein.

/pdf/chamber-design-for-the-laser-inertial-fusion-energy-life-3ig6isv7fg.pdf

Chamber Design for the Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) Engine

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Chamber Design for the Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) Engine