Abstract
Progress in the development of Nuclear Pumped Lasers (NPLs) that employ high-energy ions created by neutron-induced nuclear reactions is briefly reviewed. Most early studies concentrated on noble gas NPLs. While a 1-kW 3He-Ar laser has been reported, noble gas systems cannot fully exploit high energy capability of NPLs. Thus recent studies have generally focused on other gases and a dual media approach. As an example, current studies of the production of O2(1Δ) for use with a mixing-type iodine laser are described. Two approaches are considered: direct nuclear pumping and photolytic decomposition of O3. The O2 (1Δ)-I2 NPL would have the advantages of tons of millisecond energy storage times. The potential use of such a NPL as a driver for an inertial confinement fusion reactor has some attractive features and is examined in some detail.
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© 1984 Plenum Press, New York
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Miley, G.H. (1984). Review of Nuclear Pumped Lasers. In: Hora, H., Miley, G.H. (eds) Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7332-6_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7332-6_4
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