On the possibility of target plasma ignition under the conditions of inertial nuclear fusion

The thermonuclear gain G for bulk and spark ignitions are calculated using a mathematical simulation of thermonuclear combustion in a DT plasma of laser targets for various parameters of the target plasma and (isobaric and isochoric) ignitors. The critical parameters of ignitors at which an effective nuclear burst occurs with G ～ 100 are calculated. It is shown that a further increase in the temperature and size of the ignitors virtually does not affect the efficiency of DT fuel burnup. Irrespective of the ignition technique, the value of G can be estimated with the help of a simple asymptotic formula. At the same time, the critical parameters of ignitors are determined to a considerable extent by the mode of ignition and by the target parameters. Spark ignition with an isochoric ignitor corresponding to the fast ignition mode is considered in detail. It is shown that the main critical parameter for optimal isochoric ignitors is their thermal energy liberated upon absorption of an auxiliary ultrashort laser pulse. The critical values of this energy are calculated.