SBS PCM technique and its possible role in achieving IFE objectives

As an alternative to the IFE classical approach in irradiation of thermonuclear targets by powerful laser beams inside of the reactor chamber the SBS PCM technique will be considered. This technique should take care of automatic self-aiming of every individual laser beam with no need for any steering optics to allow for final beam position adjustment. Even if the injected pellets will inevitably reach for every shot slightly different positions within the prescribed area, their subsequent displacement from the position in which they will be illuminated into the position in which they will be irradiated will always be the same. Therefore, optical elements especially designed for taking care of every individual beam shift can be introduced once for good. This technique can significantly simplify design of laser and beam transport optics allowing for substantial increase in the number of laser beams employed. Every laser beam will operate as an independent driver with much lower energy per pulse thus making the required repetition rate easier to achieve. With many laser beams available any shape of the final irradiating pulse can be realized by considering neighboring laser beams as creating such a pulse shape when combined together on the pellet surface. This could be beneficial for the imprint suppression as well. Also, a final conversion to the third harmonic can be directly implemented into the optical path of every laser beam