Progress of advanced fusion energy studies with ultra-intense lasers

Modern high-power lasers can generate extreme states studies and fusion energy research. Laser-driven implosions of spherical polymer shells have, for example, achieved an increase in density of 1,000 times relative to the solid state. A new laser technology 'ultra-intense laser' is now opening a new ground of the laser fusion research, which is called as fast ignition. During the last several years, we have extensively studied elementary physics relevant to the fast ignitor. Based on these results, we have succeeded enforced heating of imploded plasmas with a 100 TW laser as the first demonstration of this new approach. The experimental result implies the future possibility of breakeven and ignition with significantly small laser energies. This new approach provides a route to efficient fusion energy production. (author)