Assessment of Surface-Heating Problems in Laser-Fusion Reactors

The surface-heating problems associated with the pulsed photon and ion irradiations of the first walls and liners of inertially-confined fusion reactor cavities are investigated. Analytical models for predicting the thermal response of these surfaces as a function of the different design and operational parameters of the system and the nature of the incident irradiations are developed. The effectiveness of residual gas as a means for protecting the wall from the ions and soft X-rays is assessed.