2004 Volume 73 Issue 2 Pages 194
High‐density compression and ignition temperature have been achieved separately by laser‐driven implosion, and laser fusion research is in a step toward fusion ignition and burn. A new scheme called fast ignition is proposed, which reduces the requirement for implosion uniformity and the input laser energy for laser fusion reactors. Extensive studies on elementary physical processes crucial for fast ignition have been performed, and the enforced heating of imploded plasma by a PW laser has been demonstrated using a novel target with cone‐guiding. This new approach will provide a means of efficient fusion energy production.
