Simple and Robust Implosion for Direct Drive of ICF Targets

Abstract

A method of imploding an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) target may include directing laser energy into a hohlraum, where a target is disposed within the hohlraum that includes an ablator layer, a shell disposed within the ablator layer, and a fuel region disposed within the shell. The method may also include ablating the ablator layer in response to the laser energy being directed into the hohlraum, and generating a single shockwave that is driven inward through the ablator layer. The method may further include impulsively accelerating the shell inward when hit by the single shockwave, and compressing the fuel region by the inward acceleration of the shell.

1 . A target for Inertial Confinement Fusion (“ICF”), the target comprising:
 an ablator layer comprising a combination of low-Z, medium-Z, and high-Z materials; 
 a shell disposed within the ablator layer, the shell comprising a mixture of at least one medium-Z material; and 
 a fuel region disposed within the shell, the fuel region comprising a sphere of fusion fuel gas; 
 wherein the target is only directly driven by a laser beam. 
 
     
     
         2 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the ablator layer is comprised of beryllium. 
     
     
         3 . The target of  claim 2 , wherein the shell comprises a spherical tungsten shell having a thickness of approximately 0.005 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The target of  claim 3 , wherein the fuel region comprises a sphere of deuterium-tritium gas having a radius of approximately 0.0755 cm. 
     
     
         5 . A method for directly driving a target for Inertial Confinement Fusion (“ICF”), the method comprising:
 directly driving a target for Inertial Confinement Fusion with a laser beam, wherein said target comprises:
 an ablator layer comprising a combination of low-Z, medium-Z, and high-Z materials; 
 a shell disposed within the ablator layer, the shell comprising a mixture of at least one medium-Z material; and 
 a fuel region disposed within the shell, the fuel region comprising a sphere of fusion fuel gas; 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising directly driving the target wherein the ablator layer is comprised of beryllium. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising directly driving the target wherein the shell comprises a spherical tungsten shell having a thickness of approximately 0.005 cm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising directly driving the target wherein the fuel region comprises a sphere of deuterium-tritium gas having a radius of approximately 0.0755 cm.