Laser driven inertial confinement fusion: principles, status and perspectives for energy production

On December 5, 2022, thermonuclear ignition of a deuterium-tritium mixture and target gain in excess of unity was demonstrated in an laser-driven inertial fusion experiment at the NIF laser (Livermore). This result aroused great interest even outside the scientific community, and generated great expectations on future production of electrical energy by “inertial fusion energy (IFE)”. In this talk, I will first introduce the principles of ICF by laser-driven spherical implosion, the relevant ignition conditions, as well as the main physics issues.I will then report on the experimental progress culminating in the achievement of ignition, and subsequent improvements. Finally, I will discuss the path toward commercialization of IFE, with specific reference to Focused Energy activities.