Experimental studies related to inertial confinement fusion for 0.26 μm laser light

Experimental results related to laser ICF studies at 0.26 μm are presented. The increase of Raman conversion is analysed versus the density scale length. High pressures generated by induced laser light shocks are obtained in the range of 50 Mbars; here, amplification by shock impedance mismatch of the foil collisions takes place. Finally, implosion experiments have been carried out at 0.26 μm on large aspect ratio targets, showing agreement with the numerical results as far as the dynamics is concerned. Neutron production seems to occur at the late stages of implosion but is much smaller than predicted numerically. Wall-fuel mixing is invoked as an explanation. Implosion velocities of 3.5 x 107 cm·s-1 and convergence ratios of ten have been measured, showing the efficiency of implosion at 0.26μm. (author). 14 figs