2022 Volume 17 Pages 1404088
A method is presented for controlling the trajectory of a vertically injected charged spherical laser fusion target. The position and time of the injected target in flight are measured in a position measurement unit using the Arago spot. After the target passes between the first pair of deflection plates, where there exists a constant electric field, the mass-to-charge ratio of the target in flight is obtained from the shift in its trajectory. The amplitude of the electric field applied between the second and third pairs of deflection plates is calculated using this ratio. After passing through the second and third pairs of deflection plates, the target deflects its trajectory to pass through the reactor center. The design parameters of the trajectory control system for a tabletop plasma device and a laser fusion reactor are presented.
