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(OV/3-1) Progress in Direct-Drive Laser Fusion Using GEKKO XII/PW Facility

T. Yamanaka¹⁾, H. Azechi¹⁾, Y. Fujimoto¹⁾, H. Fujita¹⁾, Y. Izawa¹⁾, T. Jitsuno¹⁾, Y. Kitagawa¹⁾, R. Kodama¹⁾, K. Mima¹⁾, N. Miyanaga¹⁾, M. Murakami¹⁾, H. Nagatomo¹⁾, M. Nakai¹⁾, K. Nagai¹⁾, M. Nakatsuka¹⁾, K. Nishihara¹⁾, H. Nishimura¹⁾, T. Norimatsu¹⁾, Y. Sentoku¹⁾, K. Shigemori¹⁾, H. Shiraga¹⁾, H. Takabe¹⁾, K. Tsubakimoto¹⁾, S. Yamada¹⁾, M. Yamanaka^1)
 
1) Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

Abstract.  Extensive studies have been carried out for the fast-ignitor laser fusion which can provide one of the most feasible short tracks in the fusion energy development. We have upgraded the heating laser up to 1 PW (500 J/500 fs) and have started comprehensive studies on the transport of high current relativistic electron beam in the dense plasma. Substantial heating of the core plasma up to 1 keV is expected with implosion plasma produced by the Gekko XII laser. We have experimentally obtained for the first time all parameters to decide the growth rate of Rayleigh-Taylor instability using the HIPER irradiation system which can generate ablation pressure up to 60 Mbar and newly developed advanced x-ray diagnostic tools. We have proposed the FIREX (Fast Ignitor Realization Experiment) program for demonstrating the proof-of-principle of fast ignitor scheme. By the irradiation of $\sim$10 kJ/2-10 ps laser onto a DT core plasma formed by the GEKKO-XII, we are aiming at temperature of >8 keV and the fusion gain near unity.

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