Future Developments and Applications of KrF Laser-Fusion Systems

The development of KrF lasers has proceeded from the small lasers invented in 1975 to the 10-kJ large amplifier module at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The future KrF laser-fusion drivers required for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) development and commercial applications, starting with single-main-amplifier laser systems in the 100- to 300-kJ range, through multimegajoule single-pulse target demonstration facilities, to repetitively pulsed drivers for electric power plants are examined. Two different types of KrF lasers are currently being analyzed as potential laser-fusion drivers: large electron-beam (e-beam)-pumped amplifiers using pure optical multiplexing for pulse compression and small e-beam sustained discharge lasers using a hybrid pulse compression technique. Both types of KrF lasers appear able to satisfy all of the requirements for commercial-applications ICF drivers, including cost, efficiency, pulse shaping, energy scaling, repetition rate, reliability, and target coupling. The KrF driver can effectively operate at efficiencies >10% and can contribute < 10 mill/kWh to the cost of electric power production, with the total estimated cost of electricity from either KrF laser system being comparable (25 to 50 mill/kWh, 1985 dollars) with the cost from other methods of electric power production.