A new technique has been developed to improve illumination uniformity in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. This technique is more efficient than previous methods and can be applied to other pellet geometries and at other facilities.
Inertial confinement fusion is a fusion power that uses lasers to compress and heat a target fuel pellet, causing it to undergo nuclear fusion. Illumination uniformity is a critical factor in inertial confinement fusion, as it affects the efficiency and symmetry of the fusion reaction.
The new technique uses a combination of laser beam shaping and target design to improve illumination uniformity. Laser beam shaping involves using optics to change the shape of the laser beam. In this case, the laser beam is shaped into a hollow cone, which helps to distribute the laser light more evenly over the target pellet.
Target design also plays an important role in illumination uniformity. The new technique uses a target pellet with a corrugated surface. The corrugations help to scatter the laser light and improve uniformity.
The new technique is more efficient than previous methods for improving illumination uniformity. It can also be applied to a wider range of target geometries and laser facilities, making it a promising development for inertial confinement fusion research.
This new research presents a new and efficient technique for improving illumination uniformity in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. This technique can potentially improve the efficiency and symmetry of fusion reactions, which is an important step towards developing commercial fusion power.
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