An integrated research plan for the IFE element of the Virtual Laboratory for Technology

In 1999, the US Department of Energyʹs (DOE) Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) added an inertial fusion energy (IFE) element to its Virtual Laboratory for Technology (VLT). The scope of the IFE element of the VLT includes the fusion chamber, chamber/driver interface, target fabrication and injection, and safety and environmental assessments for IFE. Previous IFE power plant conceptual design studies identified many different driver/chamber/target options and the critical technical issues associated with them. The IFE community (national laboratories, universities and industry) has developed an R&D plan to address the critical issues in these areas in a coordinated manner. This paper provides an overview of the top-level critical issues and the current and proposed research activities to resolve them.