An Advanced Fuel Laser Fusion and Volume Compression of p-¹¹ B Laser-Driven Targets

Progress in inertial confinement fusion development justifies an optimistic view of future concepts. The use of advanced fuels represents a key goal in obtaining future power plants. Prior work on such targets using a deuterium-tritium spark ignition is reviewed and evaluated via the conceptual reactor design LOTRIT. Preliminary calculations presented here also indicate that it may ultimately be possible to achieve a p-¹¹B burn using a volume ignition. However, the parameters required, e.g., 10⁵ times solid density, are beyond the reach of present technology.