This book takes a holistic approach to plasma physics and controlled fusion via Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) techniques, establishing a new standard for clean nuclear power generation. Inertial Confinement Fusion techniques to enable laser-driven fusion have long been confined to the black-box of government classification due to related research on thermonuclear weapons applications. This book is therefore the first of its kind to explain the physics, mathematics and methods behind the implosion of the Nd-Glass tiny balloon (pellet), using reliable and thoroughly referenced data sources. The associated computer code and numerical analysis are included in the book. No prior knowledge of Laser Driven Fusion and no more than basic background in plasma physics is required.
Short Course in Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics.- Essential Physics of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF).- Physics of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF).- Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF).- Appendix A: Schr?dinger Wave Equation.- Appendix B: The Stirling Formula.- Appendix C: Table of Fermi--Dirac Functions.- Appendix D: Tables of Thomas--Fermi Corrected Equation of State.- Appendix E: Lagrangian and Eulerian Coordinate Systems.- Appendix F: Angular Plasma Frequency and High Power Laser.- Appendix G: A Soliton Wave.- Index.
Dr. Bahman Zohuri currently works for Galaxy Advanced Engineering, Inc., a consulting firm that he started in 1991 when he left both the semiconductor and defense industries after many years working as a chief scientist. After graduating from the University of Illinois in the field of physics, applied mathematics, then he went to the University of New Mexico, where he studied nuclear engineering and mechanical engineering. He joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation, where he performed thermal hydraulic analysilóV