White Paper: Improved Characterization Of Transmitted Wavefront Error On CADB® Epoxy-Free Bonded Solid State Laser Materials

By Nick Traggis and Neil Claussen, Precision Photonics Corporation, and Andy Bayramian, Kathleen Schaffers and Bob Deri, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Several projects are underway worldwide which promise to demonstrate fusion ignition and gain. The first of these to be completed is the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.1,2 In 2010, the team of scientists and engineers operating the NIF will start a campaign to demonstrate fusion ignition, which could serve as the basis for a national program to develop Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE). A LIFE power generation system will have to meet all of the basic requirements of the NIF including laser requirements, target geometry, target illumination, radiation/hazardous materials handling and safety. In addition, the power generation system will have to address high average power operation of the laser system, average power effects on the target chamber, target injection and tracking, target mass production, blanket and tritium production, and the balance of plant to produce electricity.