P8430
NIF-0205-1033115EIM/sb
P8434
Clean Energy: Humankind’s
Challenge
The National Ignition Facility
P8435NIF-0105-10154-r231EIM/sb
Magnetic Fusion Energy Inertial Fusion Energy
Biggest challenge is making it safe, reliable, and cost effective
Fusion energy may be a future energy option
Could we build a miniaturesun on earth?
Could we build a miniaturesun on earth?
NIF-0205-10343 P8481
19521952
P8479NIF-0205-10341
8 years later in 1960, the laser was invented
8 years later in 1960, the laser was invented
NIF-0205-1034215EIM/dj
P8480
Proposal to use lasers for fusion energy
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory—1960
3 days later
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory—1960
3 days later
Proposal to use lasers for fusion energy
NIF-0104-Slide_061 P6530
ItIt seems likely!It seems likely!
NIF-0205-1033215EIM/ld
P8437
NIF-1004-09597-L2903EIM/tr
P8431
LLNLLLNL
San FranciscoSan Francisco
NIF-1004-09597-L2803EIM/tr
P8432
LLNLLLNL
National Ignition FacilityNational Ignition Facility
P7488NIF-1104-0978417EIM/tr
NIF-0105-1011821EIM/tr
P8134
P7481NIF-1104-0978317EIM/tr
P8138
NIF concentrates all the energy in a football
stadium-sized facility into a mm3
NIF-0205-10333NIF-0205-1033315EIM/dj15EIM/djNIF-0205-1033315EIM/dj
P8439P8439P8439
192 Laser Beams
Laser Specifications
Energy 1.8 MJ
Power 750 TW
⇒⇒
P8138
NIF concentrates all the energy in a football
stadium-sized facility into a mm3
NIF-0205-10234NIF-0205-1023415EIM/dj15EIM/dj
P8235P8235NIF-0205-1023415EIM/dj
P8235
MatterTemperature
RadiationTemperature
Pressures
Conditions
⇒
⇒
⇒
>3.5 × 106 K
>300 eV
>108 K~10 keV
>1011 atm
NIF-0204-08049r331EIM/ld
P8198
Laser Glass
NIF-0901-02636_89-EIM18BW/paa
Glass SlabsLRU
P6250_L1
NIF-0903-07255_r108EiM/ld
P6253 12/2/03EIM/sb
Power Amplifier
P8136NIF-0105-1012421EIM/paa
Target Chamber
NIF-0803-0711231EIM/djNIF-0803-0711231EIM/dj
Target Bay
P8207-L1-L1
NIF-0501-02172 X2235
TargetChamber
Main AmplifierFlashlamp Tests
Laser Bay 2July 2002
The National Ignition Facility
NIF-0205-1034515EIM/cls
P8484
NIF has been fired over 400 times
Energy (kJ per beam)
Po
wer
(T
W p
er b
eam
)
2ω & 3ω Performance
00.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
4.50
2 4 6 8 10 12
Haan 3ω ignition pulse
P8460NIF-0205-1033415EIM/ld
LPI
3 ns 1 ns
z (mm)-2 20
t = 1.5 ns t = 2.5 ns
z (mm)-2 20
t = 1.5 ns t = 2.5 ns t = 3.5 ns
t = 3.5 ns
Hohlraums
EOSHydro
z (mm)-2 20 NIF is steadilyNN yy
developing a large ddev rgerange of experimental ental ental rangerange
capabilities
The National Ignition Facility
P8482
Repetition frequency 10–4 HzElectrical efficiency 0.5%
NIF
Fusion Reactor
Repetition frequency 10 HzElectrical efficiency 10%
Is NIF a precursor to an IFE plant?
NIF-0105-10159-r131EIM/cld
The National Ignition Facility
1.8MJ UV
NIF is about 5 orders of magnitude more energetic than its earliest predecessor
NIF-0105-1016615EIM/dj
10KJ IR
30KJ UV
100J IRJanus
P8203
Shiva
Nova
NIF
P8462-L2
Remaining Challenge:— Rep rate— Efficiency
NIF-0205-10346NIF-0205-1034615EIM/dj15EIM/djNIF-0205-1034615EIM/dj
60
50
40
30
20
10
00 5 10
Ou
tpu
t E
ner
gy
(J)
Number of Shots (x 103)
15 20 25
55 J at 3.3 Hz for > 5.5 hours
Mercury Laser
at LLNL
The National Ignition Facility
NIF is based on 1960’s — 1990’s laser technology
NIF-0205-10177-r1 -L101EIM/cld
P8475P####-L2 P8476
Glass
Flashlamps
Glass
KDP
Air cooling
Discrete Spatial Filters
-L3 P8477
These technologies result in a low rep rate,low efficiency laser fusion driver
The National Ignition Facility
IFE laser will be based on 1960’s — 2020’s technology
NIF-0205-10176-r1-L101MLS/cld
P8472
All present in low rep rate, low efficicency, laser driveAll present in low rep rate, low efficicency, laser drive
P####-L2 P8473
DiodesFlashlamps
Glass
KDP
Air cooling
Discrete Spatial Filters
Glass/Ceramics/Crystals
DKDP
He cooling
Rugate reflectors
-L3 P8474
These “plug and play” modifications to NIF architecture could increase rep rate by 100,000x and efficiency by 40x
The National Ignition Facility
Diodes are significantly more energy efficient than flashlamps
NIF-0205-1033615EIM/dj
P8467
DiodesFlashlamps
10% electrical-optical efficiency
60% electrical-optical efficiency
The National Ignition Facility
Projected diode costs support economic IFE driver
NIF-0205-1033715EIM/tr
P8468
1994
1997
2001
2007
2020
Mercuryprice
“Soft” quoteof 35¢/W
IFE goal
60% learning curve
100
10
0
0.1
0.0110K 100K 1M
Cumulative bars
Pri
ce (
$/W
)
10M 100M
The National Ignition Facility
Optional IFE configuration
NIF-0205-10302 -L110SM/cld
P8470
NIF architecture supports — Direct drive — Fast ignition
-L2 P8471
The National Ignition Facility
P8469
Leveraging the NIF provide a near-term pathwayto the demonstration of an IRE beam line
NIF-0205-1033815EIM/tr
2025
2020
2015
2010
2005
2000 NIF Early Light
Mercury – 100 J/10Hz
NIF Ignition Campaign
– Direct Drive Ignition– Fast Ignition R&D– Diode pumped NIF beam line– IRE beam line demonstration
IFE
The National Ignition Facility
P8486NIF-0205-1034710/EIM/cls
NIF: Visions becoming reality
1960’s 2000’s
Ignition in 2010 Golden Anniversary of the Laser!