A Nuclear Pumped Laser for the Laboratory Microfusion Facility

Abstract

The Laboratory Microfusion Facility (LMF) has been proposed to study Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) targets with reactor-grade gains. An advanced solid-state laser is the prime candidate as the driver for the LMF. However, here we present a conceptual design for an alternate approach using a Nuclear Pumped Laser (NPL).A pulsed fission reactor is used to excite an oxygen-iodine laser in this design, based on preliminary data on nuclear pumping of O2(1δ). Although a working NPL of this specific type has not yet been assembled, we believe this concept holds great potential, both as a test facility driver and as a future power reactor.