US lab reveals secrets to nuclear fusion fuel target survival

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have made significant advances in understanding how nuclear fusion fuel capsules—specifically 3D-printed foam targets—behave under extreme conditions akin to those in inertial fusion energy (IFE) reactions. Using the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), four key studies examined various challenges in target design, including temperature measurement during implosion, shockwave propagation through novel 3D-printed foams, high-resolution imaging of foam microstructures, and the impact of tiny imperfections (voids) on capsule compression. These experiments provide critical data to improve simulation models and guide the development of fuel capsules that can withstand intense heat and pressure, compress symmetrically, and be mass-produced for future fusion power plants. This research is part of the DOE’s IFE-STAR program and establishes experimental frameworks for further studies on density, pressure, and imaging of fusion targets. The work addresses fundamental hurdles in making fusion energy a viable and sustainable power