Fusion Energy Research with Lasers, Direct Drive Targets, and Dry Wall Chambers

We are carrying out a coordinated, focussed effort to develop Laser Inertial Fusion Energy. The key components are developed in concert with one another and the science and engineering issues are addressed concurrently. Significant progress has been made in this program: We are evaluating target designs that show it could be possible to achieve the high gains (>100) needed for a practical fusion system. These have a low density CH foam that is wicked with solid DT, and overcoated with a thin high-Z layer. Significant advances have been made with the two types of laser are being developed: Krypton Fluoride (KrF) gas lasers and Diode Pumped Solid State Lasers (DPPSL). Both have the potential to meet the fusion energy requirements for rep-rate, efficiency, durability and cost. This talk will also present the advances in target fabrication (advanced foams and high Z overcoats), target injection (new facility for target injection and tracking studies), final optics (aluminum at grazing incidence has high reflectivity and exceeds required laser damage threshold), and development of chamber operating windows (target survival plus no wall erosion). (author)