Redistribution of solid fuel in inertial confinement fusion target by plasma

Abstract

A new technique of applying a high frequency discharge for redistribution of solid deuterium–deuterium (D2) or deuterium–tritium (DT) fuel in a laser fusion target is proposed for future reactor‐class targets. This technique can enhance the beta decay technique which has a long time constant for redistribution of the fuel far below the triple point. A plasma initiated in the central void of the target by glow discharge uniformly heats the inner surface of the fuel ice, and the target is located in an isothermal cooling medium. Resultant higher temperatures at a thicker fuel ice area induce sublimation of the thick fuel ice and condensation of the vapor on a thinner, cold area. This technique is applicable to deuterium fuel in a shell for current implosion experiments. A proof of principle was demonstrated by using krypton gas and liquid nitrogen as substitutes for the D2 or DT fuel and liquid helium, respectively. A smooth solid krypton layer was formed in a glass shell with a gas feeder.