Laser Driver Module Using Nonlinear Conversion to Cut Pump Laser Count

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laser drivers for inertial confinement fusion require a large number of high-energy lasers to produce polychromatic driver pulses, which are expensive and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A laser driver module that combines low-energy monochromatic beams through nonlinear processes such as optical parametric amplification or second harmonic generation to produce high-energy ultraviolet driver pulses, reducing the number of lasers needed by generating polychromatic driver pulses using fewer lasers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If N high-energy lasers are used to produce polychromatic driver pulses, then the driver pulse quality is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver pulse qualityVSAvoidnumber of lasers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple low-energy monochromatic laser beams through nonlinear optical processes (optical parametric amplification and sum-frequency generation) to produce a single polychromatic high-energy driver pulse. Instead of using N separate high-energy lasers, the system merges M low-energy lasers with fewer pump lasers to achieve the same polychromatic output, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining driver pulse quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces nonlinear optical crystals as intermediary elements that facilitate the combination of low-energy monochromatic beams. These crystals enable optical parametric amplification and sum-frequency generation processes, acting as mediators that transform multiple low-energy inputs into a high-energy polychromatic output without requiring direct combination of N high-energy lasers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If N high-energy lasers are used to produce polychromatic driver pulses, then the driver pulse energy is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver pulse energyVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses low-energy monochromatic laser beams as copies or substitutes for high-energy laser beams. By replicating the functional output of N high-energy lasers through nonlinear optical processes acting on M low-energy lasers, the system achieves equivalent driver pulse energy at lower cost, since low-energy lasers are less expensive than high-energy lasers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the energy parameter distribution across multiple laser beams. Instead of concentrating high energy in N separate lasers, the system uses M low-energy lasers whose combined output is transformed through nonlinear optical processes to produce the required high-energy polychromatic driver pulse, thereby reducing individual laser costs while maintaining total energy output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach efficiently induces implosion of the fuel pellet with fewer lasers, improving energy delivery and reducing costs, while also allowing for the recovery and recycling of residual pump power to enhance the overall efficiency of the fusion process.

Implementation Method 1

the nonlinear process is optical parametric amplification. In this process, the signal pulses are amplified, the pump pulses are depleted, and idler pulses are generated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical parametric amplification:

Implementation Method 2

all of the pulses in the ensemble are subject to second harmonic generation, sum-frequency generation, or both to reduce the wavelengths of the pulses in those beams to ultraviolet wavelengths

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSecond harmonic generation: Second Harmonic Generation

Implementation Method 3

all of the pulses in the ensemble are subject to second harmonic generation, sum-frequency generation, or both to reduce the wavelengths of the pulses in those beams to ultraviolet wavelengths

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSum-frequency generation:

Data Source

PatentUS20230396031A1Laser driver module that produces a beam of polychromatic driver pulses using fewer pump lasers

Publication Date: 2023.12.07 UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

AI summary

At least one beam of pump pulses is combined in a nonlinear process with a plurality of monochromatic beams, each containing signal pulses of a unique wavelength. This produces an ensemble of beams of pulses having wavelengths of medium length. Then, all of the pulses in all of the beams in the ensemble are subject to second harmonic generation, optical parametric amplification, sum-frequency generation, or combinations to reduce the wavelengths of those pulses to ultraviolet wavelengths, thereby creating driver pulses. Driver beams made up of those reduced-wavelength driver pulses can then be focused upon a fuel pellet.