OV/3-2 1 Fusion Energy Research with Lasers, Direct Drive Targets, and Dry Wall Chambers * J.D. SETHIAN, S.P. OBENSCHAIN, M. MYERS, A J. SCHMITT, D. COLOMBANT, J. GARDNER, F. HEGLER, M. WOLFORD, J. GIULIANI, P. KEPPLE, and S. SWANEKAMP Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC D. WEIDENHEIMER, Titan Pulse Sciences Division, San Leandro, CA D. WELCH and D. ROSE, Mission Research Corporation, Albuquerque, NM S. PAYNE, C. BIBEAU, A. BARAYMIAN, R. BEACH, K. SCHAFFERS, B. FREITAS, W. SKULINA, W. MEIER, J. LATKOWSKI, J. LINDL, and L.J. PERKINS, Lawrence Livermore National Lab D. GOODIN and R. PETZOLDT, General Atomics, San Diego, CA F. NAJMABADI, M. TILLACK and R. RAFFRAY, University of California, San Diego D. HAYNES, R. PETERSON, G. KULCINSKI, University of Wisconsin A. NOBILE and J. HOFFER, Los Alamos National Laboratory D. SCHROEN, Schafer Corp, Livermore, CA C. OLSON, T. TANAKA, and T. RENK, Sandia National Laboratory L. SNEAD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory e-mail contact of main author: sethian@this.nrl.navy.mil ABSTRACT. We are carrying out a coordinated, focused effort to develop Laser Inertial Fusion Energy. The key components are developed in concert with one another and the science and engineering issues are addressed concurrently. Significant progress has been made in this program: We are evaluating target designs that show it could be possible to achieve the high gains (>100) needed for a practical fusion system. These have a low density CH foam that is wicked with solid DT, and over coated with a thin high-Z layer. Significant advances have been made with the two types of laser are being developed: Krypton Fluoride (KrF) gas lasers and Diode Pumped Solid State Lasers (DPPSL). Both have the potential to meet the fusion energy requirements for rep-rate, efficiency, durability and cost. This paper also presents the advances in development of chamber operating windows (target survival plus no wall erosion), final optics (aluminum at grazing incidence has high reflectivity and exceeds required laser damage threshold), target fabrication (advanced foams and high Z overcoats), and target injection (new facility for target injection and tracking studies). 1. Introduction We are carrying out a coordinated, focused effort to develop Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (Laser IFE). The approach is based on lasers, direct drive targets, and dry wall chambers. We are developing the key components for this concept in concert with one another and are addressing the science and engineering issues at the same time. This integrated approach ensures Laser Fusion Energy will be developed as a coherent system. The attractiveness of this approach lies in its inherent simplicity, its separable architecture, and the modular nature of the laser driver. The targets are spherical shells, which in principal can be fabricated in a single droplet generator. Thus, they naturally lend themselves to automated, low cost production. Moreover, none of the target components need to be recycled. The first wall is a passive structure that does not have to hold vacuum. Not having to worry about vacuum