ABSTRACT
This chapter thoroughly discusses the physics of nuclear fusion, describes the basic requirements of ignition, and highlights the technological challenges to achieve fusion gain. Emphasis is given to laser-driven fusion or inertial confinement fusion (ICF) describing the direct drive and indirect drive approaches. Selected approaches such as fast ignition, shock ignition, and impact ignition are explored in detail. Key concepts involved in the fabrication of fusion fuel (D-T pallet) and its implosion by high-power lasers using different compression methods are described. The resulting effects such as absorption of laser energy in plasma, matter ablation, fuel compression, hot-spot ignition, burn propagation, self-heating, and so forth are illustrated. Energetic calculations are made to achieve the break-even condition and gain in central hot-spot ignition.
