Advances in Relativistic Fluid Dynamics, Observables, and Applications - In Memoriam Walter Greiner

Walter Greiner was one of the first physicists using Relativistic Fluid Dynamics for High Energy Nuclear Reactions. The present Inertial Confinement Fusion research and development is hindered by hydrodynamic instabilities, occurring at the intense compression of the target fuel by energetic laser beams. The suggested method combines recent advances in two fields: detonations in relativistic fluid dynamics and radiative energy deposition by plasmonic nano-shells. The compression of the target can be negligible and a laser pulse achieves rapid volume ignition, which is as short as the penetration time of the light across the pellet. The reflectivity of the target can be made negligible, and the absorptivity can be increased by one or two orders of magnitude using plasmonic nanoshells embedded in the target fuel. Thus, higher ignition temperature can be achieved with modest compression. The short light pulse can heat most of the interior of the target to the ignition temperature simultaneously. This prevents the development of any kind of instability, which would prevent complete ignition or transition of the target.