Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena: Volume 3B PDF
Preview Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena: Volume 3B
Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena Volume3B A Continuation Order Plan is available for this series. A continuation order will bring delivery of each new volume immediately upon publication. Volumes are billed only upon actual shipment. For further information please contact the publisher. Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena Volume3B Edited by Helmut J. Schwarz Professor of Physics Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Heinrich Hora Adjunct Associate Professor of Physics Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Max-Planck-Institut liir Plasmaphysik Garching, Germany PLENUM PRESS • NEW YORK AND LONDON Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Laser interaction and related plasma phenomena. Proceedings of the 1st- workshops held at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford Graduate Center, Hartford, Conn., 1969- Includes bibliographies. 1. High temperature plasmas-Congresses. 2. Controlled fusion-Congresses. 3. Lasers-Congresses. I. Schwarz, Helmut J., 1915- ed. II. Hora, Hein- rich, ed. III. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. QC718.5.H5L37 530.4'4 79-135851 ISBN 978-1-4684-8418-2 ISBN 978-1-4684-8416-8 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-4684-8416-8 Second half of the Proceedings of the Third Workshop on Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena held at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, August 13-17, 1973 ADVISORY BOARD N.G. BASOV A. H. GUENTHER P. N. Lebedev Institute, USSR Kirtland Air Force Base P. HARTECK K. BOYER Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Los Alamos Laboratories New Mexico R. E. KIDDER Lawrence Livermore Laboratory J. M. DAWSON A. M. PROKHOROV Princeton University P. N. Lebedev Institute, USSR A. J. DEMARIA W. WITKOWSKI United Aircraft Research Labs Max-Planck-Institut, Germany © 1974 Plenum Press, New York Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1974 A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation 227 West 17th Street, New York, N.Y. 10011 United Kingdom edition published by Plenum Press, London A Division of Plenum Publishing Company, Ltd. 4a Lower John Street, London W1 R 3PD, England All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher PREFACE As was the case in the two preceding workshops of 1969 and 1971, the Third Workshop on "Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena" held in 1973 was of international character. The main purpose was to review the advanced status of this particular and turbulent field of physics as it had developed vigorously in all major laboratories of the world since 1971. Due to recently accelerated advancements, it was hardly possible to present a com plete tutorial review; the subject is still in its premature stages and changing rapidly. A topical conference would have been too specific for a group of physicists with broad backgrounds working in the field or for those just about to enter it. It was the aim of the workshop and it is the aim of these proceedings to help this large group of scientists find their way within the highly complex and sometimes confusing results of a new field. We optimized the task of the workshop with extensive reviews on several topics and at the same time included more detailed infor mation for specialists. The differences in their conclusions were not a matter of contention but rather served to complement the advanced results. As in the preceding workshops, we directed our attention toward critical realism in respect to the complexity of the field. What is meant here is exemplified in the contribution by R. Sigel ~.667). R. Sigel illustrated how different the real intensity distribution in the focus of a neodymium glass laser is from the theoretical assumption of an ideally distributed figure-eight plane-wave inten sity. A pulse of a few nanoseconds duration resolved by a pico second image converter revealed this striking fact. Not only does the curiosity of the scientists working in this fascinating field provi~e motivation for solving these particular problems, but beyond this the exigencies of alleviating future energy crises is of major concern. v vi PREFACE The Janus-like nature of these proceedings was manifested in the extensive treatment of laser produced nuclear fusion and, for the first time, the discussion of experimental and theoretical results achieved in the application of lasers to high energy physics. Measurement of X-ray emission at 1 to 10 MeV energy was reported for the first time by J. W. Shearer et al. (see p.803) and produc tion of anti-particles by lasers was discussed by several authors. Again the laser may open up a very unique method in physics. Com pared with the "classical" way of producing anti-matter in acceler ators, the laser allows an interaction at 1012 times higher densi ties and therefore results in substantially higher efficiencies. Another historical aspect of these workshops is evidenced by the kickoff of the proceedings as introduced by the forwards of renowned scientists: the first workshop by one of the discoverers of the laser, Nobel Laureate Nicolai Basov; the second by the co discoverer of thermonuclear fusion reactions, Paul Harteck; and this time, Edward Teller who attained the first exotherm nuclear fusion reaction on earth. Other highlights included the first detailed presentations concerning two-dimensional codes of laser compression in fusion plasmas. They showed a very favorable stabilization of the dynamics, spatial and temporal irregularities and hot spots produced by the incident radiation (pp.399,427,449). A favorable decrease of the reflectivity at intensities which are desirable for nuclear fusion was observed by several authors (pp. 267, 291 ). The first direct measurement of the compression process was reported (p. 547). The development of high power lasers exceeding 1010 watts (the most important basis for nuclear fusion) was discussed. These lasers are: the C02 laser (pp.11,39,109), the iodine laser (p. 133) and the neodymium glass laser (pp.149, 427). In order to understand the present situation of neutron genera tion from laser produced plasmas, one should realize that a 200 Joule laser irradiating a spherical deuterized polyethylene plasma pr9- duces ilO more than 107 neutrons (see "Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena" Vol. II, p. 389). Even under optimized inertial confinement conditions one can theoretically expect from deuterium at solid state density and under the same experimental set-up between 108 and 109 fusion neutrons (see "Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena" Vol. II, p. 520, Eq. 7). A considerable increase of neutron production can be expected only under high compression conditions. The contribution of K. Brueckner (p. 427) made it understandable that the experiments within the next months might result in the essential breakthrough. Finally, we would like to mention what we somewhat neglected to treat in this volume: gas breakdown due to high power lasers. PREFACE vii Except for the contribution of G. H. Canavan (p. 177), we thought that the progress gained in gas breakdown since the report of the Second Workshop ("Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena" Vol. II) was of such small scale compared to the progress of the other topics that a report on the state-of-the-art could be post poned. The same holds true for the progress on interaction of laser produced plasma and on laser radiation in plasmas with external magnetic fields. However, the topic of spontaneous generation of magnetic fields in laser plasmas was represented by several contri butions (pp. 213, 237 ), showing interesting advances. As in the previous laser workshops, the success of the Third Workshop was not only due to the high caliber lecturers, but also due to the very active discussions stimulated and carried out by the participants. The participants also carried the financial load except for what was allocated to them by their respective organizations since this time the Workshop itself did not receive any outside support. Therefore, we would like to express our appreciation to the enthusiastic laser plasma groups (see list of participants p. 893) converging to the campus of Rensselaer Poly technic Institute, Troy, New York, from 12 different foreign countries. We would also like to thank the following Advisors of the Third Workshop for their counsel: N. G. Basov (P. N. Lebedev Institute, USSR), K. Boyer (Los Alamos Laboratories, New Mexico), J. M. Dawson (Princeton University), A. J. DeMaria (United Aircraft Research Labs), A. H. Guenther (Kirtland Air Force Base), P. Harteck (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), R. E. Kidder (Lawrence Livermore Laboratory), A. M. Prokhorov (P. N. Lebedev Institute, USSR) and W. Witkowski (Max-Planck-Institut, Germany). We are indebted to our University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and to its President, Dr. R. J. Grosh for hosting our guest of honor, Dr. Edward Teller, and for providing us with a competent staff. We are grateful to Dr. Stephen E. Wiberley, Acting Provost, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School of RPI who took time off to welcome the participants in his opening address at the first session which was chaired with stimulating vigor by Professor Paul Harteck. The Office of Continuing Studies under the direction of Richard J. Teich was invaluable for the organization of this Inter national Conference. Particularly, we wish to acknowledge the out standing service rendered by the Director of Special Programs, Marvin G. Clark and his assistants. viii PREFACE Thanks are also due to Dr. W. C. Stoker, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford Graduate Center, who encouraged and supported us in organizing the Third Workshop on the Troy campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Last but not least, we want to thank our colleague, Professor George C. Baldwin, who so effectively co-operated as an Associate Director of the Third Laser Workshop. We would also like to acknowledge the excellent assistance provided by Ms. Jean Jakoboski of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford Graduate Center, in preparing these proceedings. March 1974 Helmut Schwarz Heinrich Hora CONTENTS VOLUME 3B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contents of Volume 3A xiii IV. THEORY OF COMPRESSION AND ENERGY GAIN FROM LASER PLASMAS Laser-Induced Implosion and Thermonuclear Burn J. H. Nuckolls ••• 399 Theory and Experiment in Laser Drive Fusion K. A. Brueckner • • • • • • • • • 427 The Theory of Homogeneous Isentropic Compression and Its Application to Laser Fusion R. E. Kidder .. • • • • • . . . • . • . . • . 449 Nuclear Fusion Reactions in Fronts Propagating in Solid DT J. L. Bobin 465 Laser Compression and Fusion of Plasma S. Kaliski • • • • • • 495 Laser Produced Plasmas with Fissionable Material F. Winterberg 519 Super-Compression of Fissionable Material by Lasers M. S. Rabinovich, G. A. Askarjan, and W. A. Namiot ••••••••• 537 Summary of Discussions and Comments 543 ix x CONTENTS OF VOLUME 38 V. EXPERIMENTS FOR NUCLEAR FUSION Observation of the Laser-Induced Compression Wave in a Solid Target C. van Kessel and R. Sigel •••• 547 Investigation of Plasma Parameters at the Spherical Heating of the Isolated Solid Target by High-Power Laser Radiation N. G. Basov, E. G. Gamaly, O. N. Krokhin, Yu. A. Mikhai10v, G. V. Sklizkov, and S. I. Fedotov ••••••••••• 553 Harmonic Generation and Parametric Excitation of Waves in Laser Created Plasmas J. L. Bobin •.•.• 591 0 • • • • • • • • • • • •• Short Pulse Laser Heated Plasma Experiments J. Soures, L. M. Goldman, and M. Lubin. 607 Thermonuclear Fusion Plasma Heated by Lasers C. Yamanaka, T. Yamanaka, and H.-B. Kang • 629 Backscatter Experiments K. Eidmann and R. Sigel 667 Experiments with Laser-Produced Plasmas: Electrons, Ions, and Neutrons R. P. Godwin • • • • • • • • 691 Laser-Matter Interaction Studies at NRL ••••• J. A. Stamper, O. C. Barr, J. Davis, G. A. Doschek, C. M. Dozier, U. Feldman, B. M. Klein, W. M. Manheimer, E. A. Mclean, J. M. McMahon, D. J. Nagel, D. A. Tidman, R. R. Whitlock, K. Whitney, N. K. Winsor, and F. C. Young 713 Laser-CTR Developments in Australia . . . . . . J. L. Hughes • • • • • • • • • • 755 Some Reactor Implications of Laser Fusion I. Spa lding • • • • • • • • • • • • 775 Summary of Discussions and Comments • • • 799
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