Abstract: A compact, simpler, more economical ICF target chamber and reactor design that maintains a low internal pressure, sub-atmospheric, and very small neutron flux on any pressure bearing vessel or steam generating mechanism. The present invention reduces radiant target emission towards the nearest wall of the hohlraum wall and/or sleeve material so that the radiation from target burn exits the end of the hohlraum through a wall material sufficiently thick to contain the target drive radiation, but becomes transparent to the target emitted radiation. The compact converter contains the energy released by the ICF target and converts it into usable heat to create steam. It also converts the excess neutrons, from the ICF target, into tritium. This is then collected with the unburnt fuel tritium.

Abstract: A confinement chamber for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) may include a closed hohlraum and ICF target wherein the ICF target may comprise a central spherical fuel region, inner shell, outer fuel region, outer shell, and propellant region. A multitude of cylindrical beam channels may penetrate the entire thickness of the hohlraum. At the end of each cylindrical beam channel, where they exit the hohlraum, is a hemispherical cavity. Centered in the curvature of each cavity, and coaxial with each beam channel is a gold foam radiator. By layering materials or grading the density of a material in the propellant region of the closed hohlraum ICF target, the pressure profile on the outer shell may be tailored.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor ICF target is described. On an n-type silicon wafer a plurality of hard mask layers are etched to a desired via pattern. Then isotropically etching hemispherical cavities, lithographically patterning the hard mask layers, conformally depositing ablator/drive material(s) and shell layer material(s), inserting hollow silicon dioxide fuel spheres in the hemisphere cavities, thermally bonding a mating wafer with matching hemisphere cavities and etching in ethylene diamine-pryrocatechol-water mixture to selectively remove n-type silicon and liberate the spherical targets.

Abstract: A set of optical elements for optical extraction composed of packed expanding optical cross sections to efficiently extract from a large gain region. The elements are rectangular shaped concave small expansion lenses matched to rectangular convex collimating lenses. Absorbing sheets divide an overall large volume up into smaller volumes to minimize losses due to amplified spontaneous emission. This arrangement has various applications, particularly in inertial confinement technology, where it may be used to extract energy from KrF laser media energized by electron beams. For certain applications, this regime of the gain medium may have zones at the absorbing sheets where this is no gain.

Abstract: A system and method for controllably varying the thickness of film deposition on a spherical or other non-flat substrate during high volume manufacturing is described. A gripping X-Y transfer stage rotates a substrate in-situ in a direction film deposition chamber. The transfer stage is driven at variable speeds to realize a desired distribution of film thickness variation around the surface of the substrate. Spatial variations in disposition thickness can be smoothly and continuously variable or abruptly changed.

Abstract: A method of using an ICF chamber may include causing a target in the ICF chamber to emit x-ray radiation; receiving the x-ray radiation through a plurality of holes in a wall of the ICF chamber; and absorbing the x-ray radiation in a gas contained in a plurality of tubes that are coupled to the plurality of holes.

Abstract: A target assembly for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) achieving a high yield energy output. This high gain target has a low Z fuel/shell region which is lined with a thin layer of a high Z material on the inner surface and then surrounds a low density hotspot region. Adding a thin high Z liner to the inside of the low Z fuel shell has many advantages. As the shell region compresses and heats the central low density hotspot region, the radiation will be contained, and unable to leave the core. This will lower the ignition temperature of target considerably (around a factor of 4). A high Z shell liner may also increase the burn fraction of the fuel as well as increase the areal density (?r) of the hotspot.

Abstract: A system and method for driving an ICF target with a thermal wave comprising: a target assembly, located inside a hohlraum, comprising a drive region, shell region and central fuel region; wherein said hohlraum comprises one or more laser entrance apertures; wherein said one or more laser entrance apertures are sized according to the shape of said hohlraum and to prevent energy from escaping said hohlraum; a laser assembly to irradiate a laser pulse through said laser entrance apertures; inner walls of said hohlraum to reradiate said laser pulse as x-ray radiation; wherein said x-ray radiation penetrates the target assembly as a thermal wave before any significant hydrodynamic motion occurs within said target assembly during the time in which the laser assembly is active; wherein said drive region is evenly heated to a sufficient temperature to expand in an inward and outward direction; and wherein said shell region is launched into said fuel region to drive said ICF target.

Abstract: A set of optical elements for optical extraction composed of packed expanding optical cross sections to efficiently extract from a large gain region. The elements are rectangular shaped concave small expansion lenses matched to rectangular convex collimating lenses. Absorbing sheets divide an overall large volume up into smaller volumes to minimize losses due to amplified spontaneous emission. This arrangement has various applications, particularly in inertial confinement technology, where it may be used to extract energy from KrF laser media energized by electron beams. For certain applications, this regime of the gain medium may have zones at the absorbing sheets where this is no gain.

Abstract: In a system and method for controlling energy deposition on a surface of an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) target when imploding. Providing one or more volume absorber/radiators to absorb the incident beam and reradiate x-ray radiation within the hohlraum containing the ICF target. Varying the reflectivity of the inner wall of the hohlraum wall or outer surface of the ICF target. Further suppressing non-uniformities in the x-ray radiation emitted from the one or more volume absorber/radiators upon one or more materials located on an outer surface of the ICF target or inner surface of said hohlraum.

Abstract: The present architecture utilizes a Nonlinear Scattering Aperture Combiner that does not need to be optically multiplexed and then drives a Direct Compressor stage that produces a large temporal compression ratio to pump a Fast Compressor. This eliminates the need for a separate array of ATDMs, multiplexing optical elements, and, at the approximate 107 joule energy output required for ICF, reduces the number of mechanical elements and gas interfaces from the order of 103 to about 10. In addition, this provides a large reduction of the volume of the gas containment region. In order to accomplish this, a technique for transversely segmenting by color and/or polarization of the optical extraction beams of the Direct Compressor has been invented. In particular, it emphasizes the simplicity and uniqueness of design of the Direct Compressor. The Direct Compressor is unique in terms of high fluence, high temporal compression ratios, and high stage gain, leading to a very large reduction in laser costs.

Abstract: The present architecture utilizes a Nonlinear Scattering Aperture Combiner that does not need to be optically multiplexed and then drives a Direct Compressor stage that produces a large temporal compression ratio to pump a Fast Compressor. This eliminates the need for a separate array of ATDMs, multiplexing optical elements, and, at the approximate 107 joule energy output required for ICF, reduces the number of mechanical elements and gas interfaces from the order of 103 to about 10. In addition, this provides a large reduction of the volume of the gas containment region. In order to accomplish this, a technique for transversely segmenting by color and/or polarization of the optical extraction beams of the Direct Compressor has been invented. In particular, it is directed towards the integration of the Direct Compressor with the Primary Laser Source and Fast Compressor.

Abstract: Embodiments include an optical configuration of a laser for driving an inertial confinement target that may include a section configured to generate long pulse laser light (Primary Laser Source) and then to compress the long pulse with multiple compression stages to a desired pulse length, energy, and beam quality (Compression Section). These configurations can utilize compression stages that do not include any material optics operating near damage fluence, and that do not require material optics exposed to high fluences to couple compression stages to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for pumping laser media by an optical pump over a 10 nanosecond period and thereafter time compressing the energy into an extraction pulse and focusing onto a target with a final 1 nanosecond irradiation time are disclosed. The exciting pump pulses are directed into a lookthrough compression arrangement wherein they energize a stimulated scattering process in low pressure (about 1 atmosphere) gaseous media and impinge in an off axis backward geometry. The extraction pulse is formed and directed towards the target with the appropriate information (color, phase, desired irradiance pattern) impressed on it at relatively low energy by manipulation with conventional, solid material optical elements. Once formed, it traverses the gaseous media, is amplified, and proceeds through a vacuum transition section and onto the target.

Abstract: Cylindrical inertial confinement fusion reaction chambers are disclosed according to some embodiments of the invention. These chambers can include neutron moderating/absorbing material, radiation absorbing material, and debris collection material. These chambers can also include various injection ports, nozzles, beam ports, sacrificial layers, absorbers, coolant systems, etc. These chambers can be used with directional and/or omni-directional targets.