Abstract
To date, nuclear pumped lasers (NPLs) have been driven by neutrons from pulsed research fission reactors. However, future applications using either a Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) neutron source or an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) source appear attractive. One unique combination proposed earlier would use a neutron feedback NPL driver in an ICF power plant. 14‐MeV D‐T neutrons (and 2.5‐MeV D‐D neutrons) provide a unique opportunity for a neutron recoil pumped NPL. Alternatively, these neutrons can be thermalized to provide thermal‐neutron induced reactions for pumping. Initial experience with a fusion‐pumped NPL can possibly be obtained using the D‐T burn experiments in progress/planning at the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) and Joint European Torus (JET) tokamak devices or at the planned National Ignition Facility (NIF) high‐gain ICF target experimental facility. With neutron fluxes presently available, peak thermalized fluxes at a test laser in the shield region could exceed 1014 n/cm2/sec. Several low‐threshold NPLs might be utilized in such an experiment, including the He‐Ne‐H2 NPL and the Ar‐Xe NPL. Experimental set‐ups for both the tokamak and the NIF will be described.
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