The launch of the BMBF-funded IFE Targetry HUB project at the end of 2024 marks a significant milestone in Germany’s pursuit of laser-based inertial confinement fusion. This ambitious initiative, led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF) and Focused Energy GmbH, brings together 15 partners from research and industry to tackle the crucial challenge of target fabrication and fielding technologies. The stakes are high: while nuclear fusion holds the promise of solving global energy demand problems, the engineering hurdles to create a commercially viable fusion power plant remain formidable.
The IFE Targetry HUB project is laser-focused on a key component of laser-based inertial confinement fusion: the target. This tiny but mighty component comprises the hydrogen fusion fuel and the ablator material needed to compress and fuse the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium. The project aims to develop concepts that enhance fusion properties, ensure verifiable progress, and enable mass production. “The supply of material for the injection and fixation of the fusion fuel is of paramount importance for the power plant,” the project states. This underscores the critical role of targets in the success of inertial fusion energy (IFE).
The project’s goals are ambitious and multifaceted. Partners will collaborate to research suitable materials and processes for the functional and cost-efficient scalable production and characterisation of hydrogen fuel targets. This involves developing high-precision manufacturing processes, such as additive manufacturing of foams or plasma coating, and characterising target components. The ultimate aim is scalable target production that meets the high requirements for successful laser-based inertial confinement fusion.
The project is not just about innovation; it’s about creating a foundation for future advancements. The IFE Targetry HUB will establish a material, process, and characterisation basis for the simultaneous production of functional and cost-efficient targets. This includes developing new high-density carbon (HDC) diamond targets with novel silicon doping, similar to previous tungsten-based HDC targets. The project aims to research manufacturing processes that allow the simultaneous production of targets in an initial number of at least 5,000 pieces. This is a significant step forward, as current HDC fabrication techniques yield only small quantities of high-quality targets.
The project also aims to develop new statistical characterisation methods using microwave resonators and X-ray tomography. This will enable the measurement of essential parameters of materials at cryogenic temperatures, a crucial step in advancing IFE technology. Furthermore, a test stand will be implemented to examine the behaviour of IFE foams and integrated foam and ablation spherical shell targets when filled with liquid hydrogen via a microcapillary.
The IFE Targetry HUB project is more than just a research initiative; it’s a catalyst for change in the fusion energy sector. By addressing the bottlenecks in target production, the project could significantly accelerate the development of commercially viable fusion power plants. This could reshape the global energy landscape, offering a sustainable and virtually limitless energy source. The project’s focus on scalability and cost-efficiency is particularly noteworthy, as these factors are critical for the widespread adoption of fusion technology. The IFE Targetry HUB project is not just about pushing the boundaries of scientific research; it’s about paving the way for a future powered by fusion energy.
