Would it be feasible to make a chemical inertial confinement reactor?

[askingask]

So basically, instead of using large complex pumped lasers, we use chemical lasers that have insane power output. They are used to fuse a fusion pellet. The excess energy is collected and part of it is used to prepare the next batch of chemicals needed to run the laser. What would be the problems with that design and how could you design it better.

 

[Vanadium 50]

insane

Does that answer your question?

 

[mfb]

You need extremely short high intensity pulses that can be focused on a tiny target. Chemical lasers are not a good choice for that.

 

[askingask]

You need extremely short high intensity pulses that can be focused on a tiny target. Chemical lasers are not a good choice for that.

Are chemical lasers not known for their high power output?

 

[askingask]

Does that answer your question?

 

[berkeman]

Are chemical lasers not known for their high power output?

 

[askingask]

View attachment 353111

I remember reading an article about how the UK is developing chemical lasers as anti missile systems

 

[berkeman]

Are chemical lasers not known for their high power output?

Even if you get moderate power out of them, how are you going to create fs pulses?

You need extremely short high intensity pulses that can be focused on a tiny target.

More info on ICF: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...QQFnoECBUQAw&usg=AOvVaw2mHuVSY4JrG3sCHU9MXfdL

 

[askingask]

Even if you get moderate power out of them, how are you going to create fs pulses?



More info on ICF: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...QQFnoECBUQAw&usg=AOvVaw2mHuVSY4JrG3sCHU9MXfdL

Why do you need fs pulses? Would pressurizing the pellet over a longer time period not give better results?

 

[berkeman]

Why do you need fs pulses? Would pressurizing the pellet over a longer time period not give better results?

Did you read the information in the ICF link I provided?

 

[askingask]

Did you read the information in the ICF link I provided?

I skimmed the text. Can you provide the page that you are talking about , it contains around 70 pages

 

[berkeman]

I skimmed the text. Can you provide the page that you are talking about , it contains around 70 pages

See pp. 59-60 for a short discussion about laser pulse shaping. They are experimenting with different pulse shapes to optimize the implosion and ignition of the target.

So it looks like the current ICF systems need the optical amplification to not just increase the pulse power, but to also shape the final pulse at the target. I don't think you can do all of that in a single stage chemical laser...