Target manufacturing - A "grand challenge" for inertial fusion

Abstract
One of the most significant "grand challenges" for inertial fusion is to develop robust processes capable of manufacturing Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) targets with ignition-quality specifications in large quantities and at low cost. In addition, these DT-filled, cryogenic targets must be rapidly delivered to the center of a target chamber with high placement accuracy, and tracked on their journey into the chamber with high precision to permit steering of the driver beams for the implosion. Plant designs typically are based on repetition rates of 5 to 10 shots per second (500,000 targets per day for a 1000 MW(e) power plant). Laser fusion designs typically require alignment of the driver beams with the targets at chamber center to ten's of microns. While much progress has been made, reliably fueling an IFE power plant with high-yield, low-cost, targets will remain a significant "grand challenge" of inertial fusion over the next decade.