Laser driven inertial fusion energy: present and prospective

Recent progress in laser driven implosion is reviewed. Improvements in the uniformity of irradiation by laser beams on fuel pellets have achieved quantitative progress in implosion performance. The recent results of the direct drive–central ignition experiments give us confidence in achieving fusion ignition, burning and energy gain using a multi-beam megajoule laser with full implementation of beam smoothing techniques. Fast ignition research is also reviewed, which could give us a higher energy gain with lower laser energy. The science and technology of laser fusion power plants are beginning to attract wider attention, as forming the road map to achieve commercial power plants for cleaner, safer and abundant fusion energy. Corrections were made to this article on 28 April 2004