Schafer, through a contract with General Atomics, is the premier manufacturer of targets for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research. We have many years of experience in the intricacies of this technology, which combines exotic materials with highly precise manufacturing. Aspects of Schafer's ongoing activities and associated technical capabilities to design and manufacture precision, micro-miniature ICF targets are described in the following sections.
Microfabrication
Precision Machining
Materials
Schafer concentrates on ICF in which the hydrogen fuel is contained in tiny capsules called targets. These targets are zapped by powerful lasers or ion beams, and are compressed and ignited in a clever process during which the hot burning plasma is confined only by its own inertia for a fraction of a billionth of a second.
 1
ICF Related Links
 University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Sandia National Laboratory
Naval Research Laboratory
Department of Energy
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
National Ignition Facility
General Atomics
1 Pictures courtesy of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
