Fusion energy - advanced ignition techniques and target fabrication

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In a recent study, the Canadian Academy of Engineers has made several recommendations concerning the pursuit of clean energy pathways for Canada's future. One of these recommendations is that Canada re-establish a research program to pursue fusion energy which is the ultimate abundant and clean energy source for mankind. The current proposal is a critical step towards establishing a Canadian research effort in Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) focused on the pursuit of promising new advanced ignition concepts. These concepts are fast ignition and shock ignition where either an ultrashort (20 picosecond) laser pulse acts as match to trigger the ignition of the fusion reactions or an intense uniform pulse (200-500ps) launches a shock wave to create an ignition temperature spike in a compressed fuel pellet. Both techniques could reduce the size of the overall laser system by at least a factor of two having a significant impact in accelerating the development cycle for a fusion reactor system. Currently the world is awaiting breakthrough results from the 2 Megajoule laser system at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) which should demonstrate the feasibility of laser fusion using the traditional self ignition scheme within the next 6 to 18 months. In parallel, we have developed a major proposal for an Alberta/Canada Fusion Energy Institute, which has been forwarded to officials in the province of Alberta and the federal government. We are requesting funding in the present proposal to continue a research program which we have already established in collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to study the improved advanced ignition schemes. This program will investigate the generation, transport and deposition of fast electron and proton energy which is required for the fast ignition process and the backscatter and electron generation for shock ignition. In so doing we will devleop Candian expertise in niche areas of target fabrication and x-ray diagnostics and make a significant step towards making laser fusion energy a reality.