Inertial confinement fusion program at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory has completed a thorough evaluation of the CO2 laser as a driver for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and concludes that in the case of a large driver the cost of this laser is too high to be attractive. Recent studies, at Los Alamos and elsewhere, show that 0.25 μm is near the optimum coupling wavelength, and Los Alamos is involved in experimental and theoretical studies of laser-matter interaction near the wavelength. Since KrF lases at 0.25 μm and has the potential for 10% wall plug efficiency and relatively low capital cost, Los Alamos investigates the feasibility of the KrF laser as a future ICF driver. (author). 11 refs, 6 figs