Plasma-lasing as key enabling technology to the shock ignition scheme roadmap

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C13.0090

Key words (English)

Short-wavelength radiation; plasma; XUV; fusion; energy; inertial confinement; shock ignition; HiPER; Laser-megajoule; shock ignition; micro-probe

Research programs (English)

COST-Action MP1208 - Developing the Physics and the Scientific community for Inertial Confinement Fusion at the time of NIF ignition

Short description (English)

Key enabling technologies (KET) are critical 'chain-rings' in a scientific roadmap, i.e. focused pivotal contributions that affect the overall success risk. For instance, the world energy consumption is increasing dramatically whereas the raw fuels are reducing. Science and technology have thus committed to enabling fusion energy as a strategic achievement addressing both the energy-demand and geopolitical stabilization. The USA are pioneering the field, having launched the first, and so far only, operative demonstrator of inertial confined fusion. France plans for operation of 'Petal+/Laser-Megajoule' in 2-3 years from now. France is also coordinating many pan-european endeavours, such as the present COST action MP1208. Thanks to smart technical and scientific advantages, here the European community plans to focus on the so-called 'shock ignition' scheme. KET functional to this science case, such as ' plasma-lasing micro-probes' for high-resolution pump-probe experiments, are required. The therewith insights will be pivotal to gain detailed understanding, consolidate existing computational tools, and provide a scalable realistic roadmap up to the civilian energy production level. Aim of this proposal is thus to implement a KET pump-probe setup, case-tailored to the shock ignition scheme, leveraging our know-how in the plasma-lasing effect. A postdoc is thus requested to work on the design, integration and implementation of such KET for shock ignition experiments.

Partners and International Organizations (English)

BE; BG; HR; CZ; DK; FR; DE; EL; HU; IE; IL; IT; LT; PL; PT; RO; RS; ES; UK UA; RU

Abstract (English)

Key enabling technologies (KET) are critical 'chain-rings' in a scientific roadmap, i.e. focused pivotal contributions that affect the overall success risk. For instance, the world energy consumption is increasing dramatically whereas the raw fuels are reducing. Science and technology have thus committed to enabling fusion energy as a strategic achievement addressing both the energy-demand and geopolitical stabilization. The USA are pioneering the field, having launched the first, and so far only, operative demonstrator of inertial confined fusion. France plans for operation of 'Petal+/Laser-Megajoule' in 2-3 years from now. France is also coordinating many pan-european endeavours, such as the present COST action MP1208. Thanks to smart technical and scientific advantages, here the European community plans to focus on the so-called 'shock ignition' scheme. KET functional to this science case, such as ' plasma-lasing micro-probes' for high-resolution pump-probe experiments, are required. The therewith insights will be pivotal to gain detailed understanding, consolidate existing computational tools, and provide a scalable realistic roadmap up to the civilian energy production level. Aim of this proposal is thus to implement a KET pump-probe setup, case-tailored to the shock ignition scheme, leveraging our know-how in the plasma-lasing effect. A PhD is thus requested to work on the design, integration and implementation of such KET for shock ignition experiments.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C13.0090