Title:
ARGON FLUORIDE LASER-DRIVEN INERTIAL FUSION ENERGY SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2021/030163
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
An argon fluoride (ArF) laser system for inertial nuclear fusion energy production with lower required laser energy than other laser drivers. An Argon fluoride laser system uniformly illuminates a spherical capsule comprising an outer ablator wall surrounding an inner shell comprising the fusion fuel. The laser beams are adjusted spectrally to achieve a bandwidth of up to 12THz and a coherence time as low as 80 femtoseconds that in combination with the short wavelength (193 nm) suppress laser plasma instabilities. Uniform spherical acceleration causes the inner shell of the target capsule to form a spherical assembly of compressed fuel surrounding a "hot spot" that has sufficient temperature, density and size to ignite and initiate a thermonuclear burn.
Inventors:
OBENSCHAIN STEPHEN (US)
MCGEOCH MALCOLM (US)
WOLFORD MATTHEW (US)
SCHMITT ANDREW (US)
MYERS MATTHEW (US)
KARASIK MAX (US)
WEAVER JAMES (US)
BATES JASON (US)
MCGEOCH MALCOLM (US)
WOLFORD MATTHEW (US)
SCHMITT ANDREW (US)
MYERS MATTHEW (US)
KARASIK MAX (US)
WEAVER JAMES (US)
BATES JASON (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2020/045312
Publication Date:
April 15, 2021
Filing Date:
August 07, 2020
Export Citation:
Assignee:
US GOV SEC NAVY (US)
International Classes:
H01S3/225
Foreign References:
| US20100108913A1 | 2010-05-06 | |||
| US20140044226A1 | 2014-02-13 | |||
| US20180159290A1 | 2018-06-07 |
Other References:
OBENSCHAIN STEPHEN, LEHMBERG ROBERT, KEHNE DAVID, HEGELER FRANK, WOLFORD MATTHEW, SETHIAN JOHN, WEAVER JAMES, KARASIK MAX: "High-energy krypton fluoride lasers for inertial fusion", APPLIED OPTICS, OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, DC, US, vol. 54, no. 31, 1 November 2015 (2015-11-01), US, pages F103, XP055798921, ISSN: 0003-6935, DOI: 10.1364/AO.54.00F103
OBENSCHAIN S. P., BODNER S. E., COLOMBANT D., GERBER K., LEHMBERG R. H., MCLEAN E. A., MOSTOVYCH A. N., PRONKO M. S., PAWLEY C. J.: "The Nike KrF laser facility: Performance and initial target experiments", PHYSICS OF PLASMAS, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS, WOODBURY, NY., US, vol. 3, no. 5, 1 May 1996 (1996-05-01), US, pages 2098 - 2107, XP055798924, ISSN: 1070-664X, DOI: 10.1063/1.871661
OBENSCHAIN S. P., BODNER S. E., COLOMBANT D., GERBER K., LEHMBERG R. H., MCLEAN E. A., MOSTOVYCH A. N., PRONKO M. S., PAWLEY C. J.: "The Nike KrF laser facility: Performance and initial target experiments", PHYSICS OF PLASMAS, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS, WOODBURY, NY., US, vol. 3, no. 5, 1 May 1996 (1996-05-01), US, pages 2098 - 2107, XP055798924, ISSN: 1070-664X, DOI: 10.1063/1.871661
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BROOME, Kerry, L. (US)
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