Plasma physics study and laser development for the Fast Ignition Realization Experiment (FIREX) project

Thermonuclear ignition and subsequent burn are key physics for achieving laser fusion. Laboratory ignition with very large laser systems is now anticipated with the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the US and Laser Mega Joule (LMJ) in France. Fast ignition has a potential to achieve ignition and burn with about one tenth of laser energy required for these programs. With the fast ignition, the fuel compression and heating are separated, with ignition initiated by a short very high power laser pulse incident on the already compressed fuel. The fast heating of a compressed core, together with the scalability to high-density compression, has provided the scientific basis for the start of the Fast Ignition Realization EXperiment (FIREX) project. The goal of the first phase (FIREX-I) is to demonstrate ignition temperature of 5-10 keV, followed by the second phase to demonstrate ignition and burn. Coupled with the achievement of central ignition on NIF and LMJ, the research focus would then move to the demonstrations of high gain and of the inertial fusion energy technology. These programs would converge onto a laser fusion test reactor that can deliver net electric power. (author)