Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Laser-driven implosion of thermonuclear fuel to 20 to 40 g cm–3

Abstract

Inertial fusion requires the compression of fusion fuel to densities approaching 1,000 times the density of liquid DT. Compression of DT to densities in the range of 100 to 200 times its liquid density has been achieved using cryogenically cooled solid-fuel-layer DT-filled capsules irradiated directly with high-intensity symmetric short-wavelength laser radiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nuckolls, J., Wood, L., Thiessen, A. & Zimmerman, G. Nature 239, 139–142 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Nuckolls, J. Physics Today 35, 24–31 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Craxton, R. S., McCrory, R. L. & Soures, J. M. Sci. Am. 255, 68–79 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. McCrory, R. L. et al. Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 913 (1988); Laboratory for Laser Energetics Annual Report 1987, DOE/DP 40200-64, 93–106 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Laser Program Annual Report—1984, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, UCRL-50021-84, 5-35–5-38 (1985).

  6. Craxton, R. S. Opt. Commun. 34, 474–479 (1980); Seka, W., Jacobs, S. D., Rizzo, J. E., Boni, R. & Craxton, R. S. Opt. Commun. 34, 469–473 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kato, Y. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 53, 1057–1060 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. LLE Review Vol. 33, Laboratory for Laser Energetics Quarterly Report, DOE/DP 40200-65, 1–10 (1987).

  9. Musinski, D. L., Henderson, T. M., Simms, R. J. & Pattinson, T. R. J. appl. Phys. 51, 1394–1402 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kilkenny, J. D. et al. Rev. sci. Instrum (in the press).

  11. Kacenjar, S., Goldman, L. M., Entenberg, A. & Skupsky, S. J. appl. Phys. 56, 2027–2032 (1984); Skupsky, S. & Kacenjar, S. J. appl. Phys. 52, 2608–2613 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. ENDF/D-IV Library, National Neutron Cross Section Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory.

  13. Campbell, E. M., Ploeger, W. M., Lee, P. H. & Lane, S. M. Appl. Phys. Lett. 36, 965–967 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McCrory, R., Soures, J., Verdon, C. et al. Laser-driven implosion of thermonuclear fuel to 20 to 40 g cm–3. Nature 335, 225–229 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/335225a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/335225a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing