Feasibility of spherical fusion target compression under two-beam laser irradiation

The results of investigations of the laser radiation interaction with low-density foamy materials are presented. When such materials are used as the energy absorber in spherical targets with thermonuclear fuel in the laser-driven fusion (LF) problem, the physics of energy absorption and transfer in these media permits a significant reduction of the number of irradiating laser beams (down to two beams) in the implementation of spherical target compression. Traditional irradiation (direct and indirect) schemes involve the use of a large number (100–200) of irradiating beams, which is extremely difficult to realize in a fusion reactor.