Determination of the parameters of a target for generation of 1017 neutrons per laser pulse of 300 kJ energy

Calculations are reported of the parameters of cryogenic shell targets capable of reaction ignition and generation of a pulse of ~10¹⁷ neutrons by a laser pulse of 300 kJ energy and of 0.3 μm wavelength. Two laser pulse durations (1.3 and 2.6 ns) are considered. The proposed intensity profile of a laser pulse is intended to achieve low-entropy compression of a DT fuel by direct target irradiation. It is shown that the target parameters (fuel and shell masses, initial shell radius) can be selected to attain thermonuclear-burn ignition. A study is reported of the influence of various physical processes (turbulent mixing, fast-particle transport) on the burn stability.