July 25, 2023
Focused Energy is pursuing a laser-driven inertial fusion energy (IFE) scheme for commercial fusion based on proton fast ignition (PFI). PFI is an advanced fusion energy scheme that separates the fuel compression and ignition stages, offering the potential to reach the high target gains needed for IFE in a robustly performing platform. Ignition is initiated by a high-intensity, picosecond-scale, laser-generated beam of energetic protons that deposits its energy into the compressed deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel, driving a thermonuclear burn wave. The ability to optimize the proton ignitor beam for PFI relies on diagnostics that can operate at enhanced shot rates and withstand the harsh radiation environment of a fusion reactor chamber. This project will leverage Princeton Plasma Physics Lab’s (PPPL) extensive experience in developing and testing proton diagnostics to design state-of-the-art diagnostics that meet the requirements of PFI. PPPL will provide detailed designs of the diagnostic suite needed to optimize the proton ignitor beam, based on an extensive review of the existing technological solutions, as well as on the use of numerical tools allowing validation of the detector performance.