Research Areas

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Driver Technology

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Target Physics

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Target Fabrication

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Chamber Materials

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Systems Integration, Diagnostics, and Controls

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Fuel Cycle and Chamber Interface

Driver Technology

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GOALS
Develop laser beamline demonstrator(s) with:
  • At least 10 percent wall plug efficiency.
  • At least 5 J/cm2 damage threshold (ultraviolet).
  • Lifetime exceeding one billion shots.
  • Path to robust supply chain.
  • Commercially attractive costing.

OVERVIEW: LLNL researchers have world-class expertise in developing laser drivers. Our current understanding suggests that IFE power plants will need to efficiently produce multiple megajoules of ultraviolet laser light with repetition rates on order of 10 hertz. This will require significant advances in optics, optical coatings, manufacturing, and laser architecture. Of note, the first design of a pulsed-power driver concept considered for a fusion power plant was developed at LLNL.

Roadmap for Driver Technology

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Plant timeline

Known Challenges

Wall-plug Efficiency
Converting electrical power to laser power:
  • At least 10 percent efficiency, ideally greater than 15 percent
  • Rep rates up to 15 hertz
High Fluence and Power
Optical materials with:
  • Billion-shot lifetimes
  • Damage thresholds greater than 5 J per cm2 (ultraviolet) and 10-15 J per cm2 (infrared)
Survivable final optics and coatings that can withstand:
  • Neutrons
  • X-rays
  • Thermal load
Manufacturing at Scale
Architectures that:
  • Optimize performance
  • Allow a range of optical materials to be readily produced
  • Minimize high-cost components such as diodes
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