公开(公告)号：US20250104883A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-27

申请号：US18917271

申请日：2024-10-16

Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Keith A. NELSON ,  Steven E. KOOI ,  Yun KAI

IPC: G21G1/12 ,  G21B1/03 ,  G21B1/13 ,  G21B1/19 ,  G21B1/23 ,  G21G1/00

Abstract: An apparatus and method produce, from a Gaussian laser pulse, a sequence of laser rings having a spatiotemporal configuration such that impingement of the laser rings on a surface of a nuclear material in a target assembly produces constructively interfering shock waves that converge on a focal region of the nuclear material, thereby producing sufficient pressures and temperatures to form tritium in the focal region. The temporal and/or spatial intervals between the concentric pulsed laser rings are adjusted to substantially match propagation times of impingement from one ring to the next in a shock propagation layer of the target assembly. A second laser or neutron tube may be used to create a cavitation bubble at the focus. In addition to the shock waves generated in the plane of the surface, through-plane shock waves can be generated to increase the overall shock pressure.