TFW5 Summary

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series 2016-04, Vol.713 (1), p.11001
• Main Author: Nazarov, Wigen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Experiments; Format; Inertial confinement fusion; Laboratories; Laser targets; Lasers; Low temperature; Magnetic levitation; Microengineering; Microfluidics; Physics; Porous materials; Questions; Repetition; Scientists; Thickness
• ISSN: 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/713/1/011001

The fifth target fabrication workshop took place at St Andrews University, Scotland, 6-11 July 2014. Approximately 60 delegates took part, originating from the UK, USA, Japan, Spain, Italy, Russia, France and Germany. The workshop was on various subjects all relevant to the laser community and included: cryogenic targets, high repetition-rate targets, porous target materials, new techniques for the production of spherical targets, target manipulation and micro engineering, and spectroscopy of materials related to laser targets. Attendees included representatives from institutions and companies such as Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, St Andrews University, University of Michigan, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LULI, CEA, University of Darmstadt, Lebedev Physical Institute (Moscow), the Institute of Laser Engineering (Osaka), Tokyo Institute of Technology, Hamamatsu Corporation and Scitech Ltd. Of particular significance was the format of the conference, which was conducted in presentation workshop style, where delegates were encouraged to take part in questions and discussions after each presentation. Thus all the delegates had more chances to get involved in not just simple question-and-answer sessions, but also in real problem solving deliberations. One other important aspect of this conference was that younger scientists were specifically encouraged to attend. As a result, more than 50% of the delegates were younger scientists and their contributions and the levels of complexity and quality of their research was outstanding. It is hoped that this will continue in the future and younger generations will contribute positively in this area of research, which is vitally important for the future of this field, or indeed any other field. Among other subjects, several speakers addressed the topic of high repetition-rate targets needed for the future production of energy by means of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). In this context, the low temperature laboratory of CEA in Grenoble developed a cryostat able to produce a continuous film of solid molecular hydrogen of some tens of microns in thickness and one millimetre in width. This type of target could be used to produce neutrons for ICF. Furthermore, representatives from Lebedev Physical Institute presented their ideas to use magnetic levitation as a means to manipulate cryogenic ICF targets, and another talk was about employing microfluidics to produce shells for the fuel pellets used in ICF. In a s