Laser fusion

MAY 01, 1978

Will a series of nuclear explosions in miniature pellets of hydrogen, ignited to fusion by laser‐light beams, become a long‐term method for supplying the world’s energy needs?

DOI: 10.1063/1.2995038

C. Martin Stickley

Laser‐driven fusion is one approach to a long‐term solution to the world’s energy supply problems, based on a virtually inexhaustible fuel source, deuterium from water. It is also, along with magnetically confined fusion, one of the most difficult scientific tasks ever undertaken.

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References

1. D. A. Freiwald, T. G. Frank, Introduction of Laser Fusion, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (1975), available through National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va.
2. Technical Digest of Topical Meeting on Inertial Confinement Fusion (7–9 February 1978, San Diego),
Optical Society of America, Washington, D.C. (1977).
3. Summer Study of Heavy Ions for Inertial Fusion (19–30 July 1976, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory),
Energy Research and Development Administration, Washington, D.C. (1976), available from NTIS.
4. Proceedings of the Second Topical Meeting on the Technology of Controlled Nuclear Fusion (21–23 September 1976, Richland, Washington),
American Nuclear Society, LaGrange Park, Illinois (1977), available from NTIS.

More about the authors

C. Martin Stickley, US Department of Energy, Washington, D.C..