Development of Damage-Resistant Metal Mirrors for Laser-IFE

Abstract

A grazing-incidence metal mirror has been developed and tested as a candidate design option that has the potential to survive acceptably high laser fluence as well as the harsh environment of a laser-driven inertial fusion reactor chamber. We have developed fabrication techniques for high damage threshold metal mirrors and performed laser-induced damage studies using prototypical short-pulse lasers. Our results indicate that grazing-incidence metal mirrors have the ability to survive high-cycle laser irradiation while satisfying the requirements on beam quality necessary for successful target implosions.