Progress of impact ignition

Abstract

Recent progress of impact ignition is reported: First, a maximum velocity ~ 1000 km/s has been achieved under the operation of NIKE KrF laser at Naval Research Laboratory (laser wavelength = 0.25μm) in the use of a planar target made of plastic. Two-dimensional simulation have been performed for burn and ignition to show the feasibility of the impact ignition. Optimized direct illumination scheme is also addressed.