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Basic Requirements of Laser Fusion Power Production and Laser Fusion-Fission Plutonium Breeding

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Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena

Abstract

Required values of thermonuclear energy-gain, inertial confinement, laser-pulse energy and power for both electric power production by laser-fusion and for plutonium breeding by laser fusion-fission are obtained from simple considerations, and are tabulated for purposes of comparison.

It is found that breeder repuirements are very significantly less demanding, suggesting that plutonium breeding is a much more feasible near-term goal of laser fusion.

Presented at the Fourth Workshop on “Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena” held at RPI, Troy, New York, November 8–12, 1976.

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References

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© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

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Kidder, R.E. (1977). Basic Requirements of Laser Fusion Power Production and Laser Fusion-Fission Plutonium Breeding. In: Schwarz, H.J., Hora, H. (eds) Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8798-5_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8798-5_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-8800-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-8798-5

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