Inertial confinement fusion driven thermonuclear energy

Abstract

This book takes a holistic approach to plasma physics and controlled fusion via Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) techniques, establishing a new standard for clean nuclear power generation. Inertial Confinement Fusion techniques to enable laser-driven fusion have long been confined to the black-box of government classification due to related research on thermonuclear weapons applications. This book is therefore the first of its kind to explain the physics, mathematics and methods behind the implosion of the Nd-Glass tiny balloon (pellet), using reliable and thoroughly referenced data sources. The associated computer code and numerical analysis are included in the book. No prior knowledge of Laser Driven Fusion and no more than basic background in plasma physics is required. Provides an in-depth, complete education on Laser-driven Fusion, beginning with fundamentals of Inertial Confinement of Fusion (ICF) and including the code and formulae behind successful application; Shares break-through plasma physics based techniques to generate clean nuclear energy, formerly shrouded in secrecy for leveraging solely in weapons development; Covers the necessary shock-wave analysis via second order self-similarity, asymptotic and dimensional methods.