Excitation of excimer lasers by x-rays from fusion microexplosions

Direct conversion of energy from a fusion microexplosion into laser light would eliminate the need for an internal electrical power loop in this type of inertial confinement fusion power plant. We investigate the feasibility of coupling microexplosion energy into a laser via x-rays emitted by the fusion pellet plasma. Relatively detailed computer simulations were made of such x-ray pumping and subsequent lasing for two different rare gas lasers. An Xe/sub 2/ dimer laser, operating with an Ar buffer gas, converted .25% of the total pellet energy pulse into a laser beam. Higher efficiency conversion is possible by using a rare gas halide (KrF) laser species with an Ar buffer. This laser's output is 12% of the deposited x-ray energy, which corresponds to 3% of the total energy production of a typical, first generation power plant pellet.