An illumination source includes a laser driver unit configured to emit a plasma sustaining beam. An ingress collimator receives the plasma sustaining beam and produces a collimated ingress beam. A focusing optic receives the collimated ingress beam and produce a focused sustaining beam. A sealed lamp chamber contains an ionizable media that, once ignited, forms a high intensity light emitting plasma having a waist size smaller than 150 microns. The sealed lamp chamber further includes an ingress window configured to receive the focused sustaining beam and an egress window configured to emit the high intensity light. An ignition source is configured to ignite the ionizable media, and an exit fiber is configured to receive and convey the high intensity light. The high intensity light is white light with a black body spectrum, and the exit fiber has a diameter in the range of 200-500 micrometers.

An illumination source includes a laser driver unit configured to emit a plasma sustaining beam. An ingress collimator receives the plasma sustaining beam and produces a collimated ingress beam. A focusing optic receives the collimated ingress beam and produce a focused sustaining beam. A sealed lamp chamber contains an ionizable media that, once ignited, forms a high intensity light emitting plasma having a waist size smaller than 150 microns. The sealed lamp chamber further includes an ingress window configured to receive the focused sustaining beam and an egress window configured to emit the high intensity light. An ignition source is configured to ignite the ionizable media, and an exit fiber is configured to receive and convey the high intensity light. The high intensity light is white light with a black body spectrum, and the exit fiber has a diameter in the range of 200-500 micrometers.

A chamber cross-sectional multi-stage plasma arrangement characterized by escalating charge movement towards chamber center axis through one or more escalation stages contributing to the heating of the plasma, the centering of the plasma on the chamber axis, and creating rotation of the plasma therein. Rotation of the plasma around its axis induces a self-generated magnetic field, which in turn increases plasma stability and confinement. Some of the said stages of the multi-stage arrangement may be created by physical elements and components while others may be induced or generated by externally applying magnetic and/or electric fields or their combinations and/or by injection of electrons, ions or other plasma.

A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system for power production from fusion reactions alone, power production that uses additional energy of fission reactions obtained by driving a sub-critical fission pile with the neutrons from fusion reactions, destroying high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste by intense bombardment with fusion neutrons, or for the production of neutron beams for various applications includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs a multiplicity of isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase the design margin for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) ignition for applications including but not restricted to the above list. The energy content and power of the ignition-driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable.

A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system for power production from fusion reactions alone, power production that uses additional energy of fission reactions obtained by driving a sub-critical fission pile with the neutrons from fusion reactions, destroying high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste by intense bombardment with fusion neutrons, or for the production of neutron beams for various applications includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs a multiplicity of isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase the design margin for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) ignition for applications including but not restricted to the above list. The energy content and power of the ignition-driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable.

Systems and methods to that facilitate stability of an FRC plasma in both radial and axial directions and axial position control of an FRC plasma along the symmetry axis of an FRC plasma chamber. The systems and methods exploit an axially unstable equilibria of the FRC to enforce radial stability, while stabilizing or controlling the axial instability. The systems and methods provide feedback control of the FRC plasma axial position independent of the stability properties of the plasma equilibrium by acting on the voltages applied to a set of external coils concentric with the plasma and using a non-linear control technique.

A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system for power production from fusion reactions alone, power production that uses additional energy of fission reactions obtained by driving a sub-critical fission pile with the neutrons from fusion reactions, destroying high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste by intense bombardment with fusion neutrons, or for the production of neutron beams for various applications includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs a multiplicity of isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase the design margin for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) ignition for applications including but not restricted to the above list. The energy content and power of the ignition-driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable.

A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system for power production from fusion reactions alone, power production that uses additional energy of fission reactions obtained by driving a sub-critical fission pile with the neutrons from fusion reactions, destroying high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste by intense bombardment with fusion neutrons, or for the production of neutron beams for various applications includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs a multiplicity of isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase the design margin for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) ignition for applications including but not restricted to the above list. The energy content and power of the ignition-driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable.

Embodiments of a laser system having an extremely large number of small pulsed lasers for irradiating small targets in inertial confinement fusion experiments, high energy density physics experiments, and inertial fusion power plants is more flexible than existing laser systems. Embodiments facilitate finer control of critical features of laser pulses for inertial fusion, as well as significant reduction in development costs and expansion of the community involved in the research relative to existing laser systems. Embodiments produce smooth intensity profiles at the target, large bandwidth that is over two orders of magnitude greater than existing laser systems, and fine control over laser wavelengths, focal properties, temporal pulse shape, and illumination geometry. Properties of each of the small pulsed lasers are individually selectable.

Embodiments of a laser system having an extremely large number of small pulsed lasers for irradiating small targets in inertial confinement fusion experiments, high energy density physics experiments, and inertial fusion power plants is more flexible than existing laser systems. Embodiments facilitate finer control of critical features of laser pulses for inertial fusion, as well as significant reduction in development costs and expansion of the community involved in the research relative to existing laser systems. Embodiments produce smooth intensity profiles at the target, large bandwidth that is over two orders of magnitude greater than existing laser systems, and fine control over laser wavelengths, focal properties, temporal pulse shape, and illumination geometry. Properties of each of the small pulsed lasers are individually selectable.