Inertial fusion reactors (review)

The current status of the work on engineering problems of inertial fusion is reviewed. The state of laboratory physics research, aspects of driver choice, and pellet designs are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the development of inertial fusion reactors and their energy applications. It is shown that lasers with output energies in the 0.5–5.0 MJ range must be acknowledged as the undisputed leaders among the various initiating systems (lasers, as against electron, proton, and heavy-ion accelerators). On the basis of an analysis of a considerable number of Soviet and foreign sources, it is concluded that the conceptual design stage of laser fusion facilities is mainly completed and the necessary prerequisites have been established for the transition to the design and development of a demonstration reactor and then a production prototype of a multipurpose laser fusion reactor based on a laser system having an output energy of ~ 1 MJ.