Detonation along laser generated micropinch for fast ignition

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel two-laser approach for fast ignition of compressed deuterium-tritium targets, utilizing laser-generated micropinch and magnetic detonation waves to achieve ignition with reduced laser power.

Contribution

It introduces a new method combining infrared and visible/UV lasers to generate a micropinch and magnetic detonation wave for efficient fast ignition.

Findings

Laser-driven micropinch generates high current in plasma.

Magnetic detonation wave ignites the DT target.

Potential reduction in required laser power for ignition.

Abstract

The proposed fast ignition of highly compressed deuterium-tritium (DT) targets by petawatt lasers requires energy of about 100kJ. To lower the power of the laser, it is proposed to accomplish fast ignition with two lasers, one with lower power in the infrared, and a second one with high power in the visible to ultraviolet region. The infrared laser of lower power shall by its radiation pressure drive a large current in a less than solid density plasma placed inside a capillary, while the second high power-shorter wave length-laser shall ignite at one end of the capillary a magnetic field supported thermonuclear detonation wave in a blanket made from solid DT along the outer surface of the capillary. The other end of the capillary, together with its DT blanket, is stuck in the DT target, where following the compression of the target the detonation wave ignites the target.