Inertial fusion power for space applications

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Inertial fusion power for space applications

Meier, W.R. / Hogan, W.J. / Hoffman, N.J. / Murray, K.A. / Olson, R.E.

It is now considered very likely that within the next ten years, inertial confinement fusion (ICF) will achieved high (10 - 100) gain (ratio of fusion energy produced to driver energy on target) in the laboratory. Current ICF power plant designs, based upon the most technologically advanced earthbound drivers, tend to be very high power (1000 MW_e and heavy (the Nova laser weighs about 500 tons without the building). Space power needs are currently much smaller than this (but are growing), and the space application places a premium on low mass and high efficiency. This paper evaluates current ICF driver and reactor alternative technologies using space power criteria. We also consider how current technologies might be altered to produce smaller, lighter fusion power sources for space. It is shown that the technologies currently leading for terrestrial application (emphasizing low development risk and low cost) are not the best ones for space power; however, technologies are identified that would result in attractive ICF space power plants an order of magnitude less massive.