Development of a system code for an IFE reactor and investigation of a design regime for a dry wall chamber concept

Abstract

A system code for designing laser fusion reactors has been developed, and the design possibility of the laser fusion commercial plant with a single dry wall chamber and a high repetition laser has been examined. In a fast ignition concept, it is confirmed that the target gain G ≥ 100 is achievable with the fusion pulse energy of 40 MJ. If we assume the laser repetition rate of 30 Hz and the pulse heat load limit of 2 J/cm 2, the plant which has moderate electric power ( ∼ 400 MW e) can be designed with a dry wall chamber of which radius R = 5.6 m. Although there are several technological issues needed to be solved, this design point can be characterized as a first-step reactor of the laser fusion study because of its relatively low construction cost.