Laser-driven fusion: research on laser-target design and concepts at the Lebedev Physics Institute

An account is given of the main stages and of the results of theoretical and conceptual research on the problem of laser thermonuclear targets, carried out in the Division of Quantum Radiophysics of the Lebedev Physics Institute beginning from the 1960s to the present. These target are intended for generation of thermonuclear energy in an amount exceeding the initial losses.