Current status of the SBS PCM approach to self-navigation of lasers on injected IFE pellets

Abstract

Current status of SBS PCM based IFE approach proposed recently as an alternative to the IFE classical approach is presented. This technology is of particular importance to the direct drive scheme taking care of automatic self-navigation of every individual laser beam on the injected pellets with no need for any final optics adjustment. Conceptual design of one typical laser driver is shown and its features discussed. In comparison with the earlier design an upgraded scheme was developed with the low energy illumination laser beam (glint) entering the reactor chamber through the same entrance window as used by the corresponding high energy irradiation laser beam. Results of experimental verification of this improved design are reported. In these experiments for the fist time a complete setup including the pellet (realized by the static steel ball) was employed. The pellet survival conditions in the period between its low energy illumination and subsequent high energy irradiation were studied and the upper limits on the allowed energies absorbed were found for both DD and DT fuels.