3/8/2010 Colloquium - Jeffery Latkowski

Jeffery Latkowski Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Event Info

Title:  Dynamic Chamber Systems for Laser Internal Fusion-Based Energy (LIFE)

Date: Nov 21, 2011
Location: 3105 Etcheverry Hall
Time: 4-5pm

Abstract

The National Ignition Facility (NIF), a laser-based Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiment designed to achieve thermonuclear fusion ignition and burn in the laboratory, was completed in May 2009 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Experiments are underway and will culminate in the first attempts at ignition in the fall of 2010, using laser energies of 1-1.3 MJ. Fusion yields of the order of 10-35 MJ are expected soon thereafter, and we anticipate that fusion yields of 150-200 MJ could ultimately be obtained with NIF-based indirectly-driven targets at 2-3 MJ.

Laser Inertial Fusion-based Energy (LIFE) could use NIF-like targets in a repetitive fashion to provide gigawatts of carbon-free thermal power from a laser-driven source of fusion neutrons. Such power plants could be operated as either a pure fusion system or as a subcritical fusion-fission hybrid to provide additional energy gain and waste incineration. Both systems require a robust fusion engine with challenges that include the need for high-efficiency and high average power lasers, automated target fabrication, target injection, tracking and engagement, and tritium production and recovery.

LIFE utilizes a gas-protected, dry wall first wall concept. The chamber gas stops target ionic emissions and substantially attenuates the x-ray flux. The heated gas then re-radiates the energy over a timescale that is compatible with conducting the heat away from the first wall. Thus, the chamber gas acts as a buffer to protect the first wall and final optic. Modeling has been used to address the integrated chamber design challenges, which include cryogenic target injection and laser beam propagation through any residual plasma, debris and hot gas. Ongoing modeling is informing the design of scaled gas cooling and laser beam propagation chamber experiments, which will begin later this year. We will report on the status of this work as well as future plans.

This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Speaker Biography

Nuclear Engineer, National Security Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). PhD, Nuclear Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 1996; BS, Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois, 1990. Currently Chief Engineer for the LIFE (Laser Inertial Fusion-based Energy) Project. Responsible for various aspects of the LIFE engine: first wall, chamber clearing, neutronics, and final optics as well as resource allocation and overall integration of the LIFE design. 1996 recipient of the first LLNL Director's Performance Award for environmental, safety and health evaluations of the National Ignition Facility. 2009 recipient of the Fusion Power Associates award for excellence in fusion engineering.