Relativistic Plasma Physics at the National Ignition Facility

The Case for Fast Ignition as an IFE Concept Exploration Program

The fast ignition (FI) concept is a variant of inertial fusion in which the compression and ignition steps are separated. Calculations suggest this would allow a substantial improvement in target gain, and could form the basis of a very attractive power plant. Transporting the energy to ignite a target involves the physics of light-driven relativistic plasmas; a subject which is not well unders...

Energy Gain of Magnetized Cylindrical D-T Targets in Fast Ignition Fusion

In recent years, many different plans have been considered to use the nuclear energy gained from inertial confinement fusion (ICF) as attempts to obtain high energy efficiencies. In conventional ICF methods, a small amount (about mg) of the deuterium–tritium compound is confined in a small spherical chamber of a few millimeters in radius and compressed by laser or heavy ion beams with powers in...

Studying Nuclear Physics in Hot, Dense Plasmas at the National Ignition Facility

Energy Gain of Magnetized Cylindrical D-T Targets in Fast Ignition Fusion

In recent years, many different plans have been considered to use the nuclear energy gained from inertial confinement fusion (ICF) as attempts to obtain high energy efficiencies. In conventional ICF methods, a small amount (about mg) of the deuterium–tritium compound is confined in a small spherical chamber of a few millimeters in radius and compressed by laser or heavy ion beams with powers in...

Measurements of hohlraum-produced fast ions

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