This is a comprehensive book which describes the three essential parts of what is known as "Inertial Confinement Fusion": the way thermonuclear burn takes place in non-magnetized, magnetized and fusion-fission hybrid assemblies; the pulse power ignition technology (nuclear, electrical, optical and chemical); and the applications of inertial confinement fusion technology for peaceful nuclear energy on Earth and in space. An integrated single text of such extensive technical width is a rare find, and younger generations of nuclear engineers any physicists will appreciate this book as a companion to their traditional textbooks.

This is a comprehensive book which describes the three essential parts of what is known as "Inertial Confinement Fusion": the way thermonuclear burn takes place in non-magnetized, magnetized and fusion-fission hybrid assemblies; the pulse power ignition technology (nuclear, electrical, optical and chemical); and the applications of inertial confinement fusion technology for peaceful nuclear energy on Earth and in space.An integrated single text of such extensive technical width is a rare find, and younger generations of nuclear engineers any physicists will appreciate this book as a companion to their traditional textbooks.

This book takes a holistic approach to plasma physics and controlled fusion via Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) techniques, establishing a new standard for clean nuclear power generation. Inertial Confinement Fusion techniques to enable laser-driven fusion have long been confined to the black-box of government classification due to related research on thermonuclear weapons applications. This book is therefore the first of its kind to explain the physics, mathematics and methods behind the implosion of the Nd-Glass tiny balloon (pellet), using reliable and thoroughly referenced data sources. The associated computer code and numerical analysis are included in the book. No prior knowledge of Laser Driven Fusion and no more than basic background in plasma physics is required.

1. Introduction. 1.1. Bibliography for chapter 1 -- 2. Nuclear fission and fusion reactions. 2.1. Nuclear binding energies. 2.2. Nuclear reactions. 2.3. Fission chain reactions. 2.4. Thermonuclear reactions. 2.5. Fusion chain reactions. 2.6. Fission-fusion chain reactions. 2.7. Bibliography for chapter 2 -- 3. The thermonuclear plasma. 3.1. Ionization temperature. 3.2. Plasma equation of state. 3.3. Microscopic plasma theory. 3.4. Debye-length. 3.5. Macroscopic plasma theory. 3.6. Magnetohydrodynamics of thermonuclear plasmas. 3.7. Electrostatic and electromagnetic plasma disturbances. 3.8. Magnetohydrodynamic instabilities. 3.9. Radiation pressure. 3.10. Equation of state for cold matter. 3.11. Bibliography for chapter 3 -- 4. Collision processes in thermonuclear plasmas. 4.1. Collision cross sections and mean free path. 4.2. Electrical conductivity. 4.3. Heat conduction. 4.4. Viscosity. 4.5. Energy gain of cold ions by hot electrons. 4.6. Energy loss of hot ions by cold electrons. 4.7. Transport coefficients in the presence of a strong magnetic field. 4.8. Collective collision - the two-stream instability. 4.9. Plasma radiation. 4.10. Radiative plasma cooling and collapse. 4.11. Stopping cross section of ions in cold matter. 4.12. Magnetic Bremsstrahlung. 4.13. Radiation losses near a wall. 4.14. Integrated heat conduction losses of a magnetized plasma cylinder. 4.15. Electron run-away. 4.16. Bibliography for chapter 4

This book is on inertial confinement fusion, an alternative way to produce electrical power from hydrogen fuel by using powerful lasers or particle beams. It involves the compression of tiny amounts (micrograms) of fuel to thousand times solid density and pressures otherwise existing only in the centre of stars. Thanks to advances in laser technology, it is now possible to produce such extreme states of matter in the laboratory. Recent developments have boosted laser intensities again with new possibilities for laser particle accelerators, laser nuclear physics, and fast ignition of fusion targets. This is a reference book for those working on beam plasma physics, be it in the context of fundamental research or applications to fusion energy or novel ultra-bright laser sources. The book combines quite different areas of physics: beam target interaction, dense plasmas, hydrodynamic implosion and instabilities, radiative energy transfer as well as fusion reactions. Particular attention is given to simple and useful modelling, including dimensional analysis and similarity solutions. Both authors have worked in this field for more than 20 years. They want to address in particular those teaching this topic to students and all those interested in understanding the technical basis.

The potential for using fusion energy to produce commercial electric power was first explored in the 1950s. Harnessing fusion energy offers the prospect of a nearly carbon-free energy source with a virtually unlimited supply of fuel. Unlike nuclear fission plants, appropriately designed fusion power plants would not produce the large amounts of high-level nuclear waste that requires long-term disposal. Due to these prospects, many nations have initiated research and development (R&D) programs aimed at developing fusion as an energy source. Two R&D approaches are being explored: magnetic fusion energy (MFE) and inertial fusion energy (IFE). An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy describes and assesses the current status of IFE research in the United States; compares the various technical approaches to IFE; and identifies the scientific and engineering challenges associated with developing inertial confinement fusion (ICF) in particular as an energy source. It also provides guidance on an R&D roadmap at the conceptual level for a national program focusing on the design and construction of an inertial fusion energy demonstration plant.

Newcomers to the field of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) often have difficulty establishing a clear picture of the overall field. The reason for this is because, while there are many books devoted to special topics within the field, there is none that provides an overview of the field as a whole. An Introduction to Inertial Confinement Fusion fi