Foam encapsulated targets
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsJohn H. Nuckolls, Albert R. Thiessen, Glen H. Dahlbacka
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Abstract
Foam encapsulated laser-fusion targets wherein a quantity of thermonuclear fuel is embedded in low density, microcellular foam which serves as an electron conduction channel for symmetrical implosion of the fuel by illumination of the target by one or more laser beams. The fuel, such as DT, is contained within a hollow shell constructed of glass, for example, with the foam having a cell size of preferably no greater than 2 .mu.m, a density of 0.065 to 0.6.times.10.sup.3 kg/m.sup.3, and external diameter of less than 200 .mu.m.
Claims18
A foam encapsulated target comprising:
- a hollow substantially spherical shell constructed from a nonexplosive material and containing a quantity of fuel, said shell being encapsulated in nonexplosive foam composed of material having a density in the range of 0.065 to 0.6.times.10.sup.3 kg/m.sup.3 and a cell size of about 0.3 to 2 .mu.m.
A target comprising:
- a hollow substantially spherical shell having a diameter ranging from about 50 to 100 .mu.m and a wall thickness of 0.1 to 1 .mu.m, said shell being composed of a non-explosive material, said shell containing a quantity of fuel selected from the group consisting of DT, LiD, LiDT, and D, and being incapsulated in a non-explosive foam comprising a material having a density in the range of 0.065 to 0.6.times.10.sup.3 kg/m.sup.3 and a cell size of about 0.3-2 .mu.m.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.