Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory



Livermore Inertial Fusion Energy References

The potential application of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) to energy production has been pursued by the community, including LLNL, since the recognition that it might be possible to achieve high gain ICF in the laboratory. Over the decades, LLNL has contributed to multiple IFE studies, with significant efforts, including the High Average Power Laser (HAPL) program, in the 1990’s and 2000’s for both laser and heavy ion driven concepts.

A substantive recent effort was the Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) study, which aimed to develop an accelerated path towards commercialization of IFE in anticipation of ignition (breakeven) on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). As a relatively recent effort (~2008 to ~2014) that studied, preliminarily developed, and integrated many aspects of what might be required to achieve IFE, the results from LIFE can provide one viewpoint and help inform the IFE community as we work to develop an appropriate path forward.

This web page provides a list of references for potential follow up.



First Author Year All Authors Platforms Discovery Journal Name
R. P. Abbott., et al.,Thermal and Mechanical Design Aspects of the LIFE Engine., Fusion Sci. Technol.,56 (2009)2009Thermal and Mechanical Design Aspects of the LIFE Engine[Abbott, Ryan P.; Gerhard, Michael A.; Kramer, Kevin J.; Latkowski, Jeffery F.; Morris, Kevin L.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USA; [Kramer, Kevin J.; Peterson, Per F.; Seifried, Jeffrey E.] Univ Calif Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USAFusion Sci. Technol.here
P. DeMange., et al.,Thermo-mechanical and neutron lifetime modelling and design of Be pebbles in the neutron multiplier for the LIFE engine., Nucl. Fusion,49 115013 (2009)2009Thermo-mechanical and neutron lifetime modelling and design of Be pebbles in the neutron multiplier for the LIFE engine[DeMange, P.; Marian, J.; Caro, M.; Caro, A.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USANucl. Fusionhere
P. DeMange., et al.,TRISO-fuel element thermo-mechanical performance modeling for the hybrid LIFE engine with Pu fuel blanket., J. Nucl. Mater.,405 (2010)2010TRISO-fuel element thermo-mechanical performance modeling for the hybrid LIFE engine with Pu fuel blanket[DeMange, P.; Marian, J.; Caro, M.; Caro, A.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94551 USAJ. Nucl. Mater.here
J. O. Kane., et al.,"Modeling of the LIFE minichamber Xe theta pinch experiment"., Proc. SPIE 7916, High Power Lasers for Fusion Research,, 791605 (2011)2011"Modeling of the LIFE minichamber Xe theta pinch experiment"Proc. SPIE 7916, High Power Lasers for Fusion Research,here
K. J. Kramer., et al.,Neutron Transport and Nuclear Burnup Analysis for the Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion-Fission Energy (LIFE) Engine., Fusion Sci. Technol.,56 (2009)2009Neutron Transport and Nuclear Burnup Analysis for the Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion-Fission Energy (LIFE) Engine[Kramer, Kevin J.; Latkowski, Jeffery F.; Abbott, Ryan P.; Boyd, John K.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USA; [Kramer, Kevin J.; Powers, Jeffrey J.; Seifried, Jeffrey E.] Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Nucl Engn, Berkeley, CA 94720 USAFusion Sci. Technol.here
K. J. Kramer., et al.,Parameter study of the LIFE engine nuclear design., Energ. Convers. Manage.,51 (2010)2010Parameter study of the LIFE engine nuclear design[Kramer, K. J.; Meier, W. R.; Latkowski, J. F.; Abbott, R. P.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94551 USA; [Kramer, K. J.] Univ Calif Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USAEnerg. Convers. Manage.here
K. J. Kramer., et al.,Fusion-Fission Blanket Options for the LIFE Engine., Fusion Sci. Technol.,60 (2011)2011Fusion-Fission Blanket Options for the LIFE Engine[Kramer, Kevin J.; Fratoni, Massimiliano; Latkowski, Jeffery F.; Abbott, Ryan P.; Anklam, Thomas M.; Beckett, Elizabeth M.; Bayramian, Andy J.; DeMuth, James A.; Deri, Robert J.; De La Rubia, Tomas Diaz; Dunne, A. Mike; El-dasher, Bassem S.; Farmer, Joseph C.; Lafuente, Antonio; Meier, Wayne R.; Moir, Ralph W.; Morris, Kevin L.; Moses, Edward I.; Powers, Jeffrey J.; Reyes, Susana; Sawicki, Richard H.; Seifried, Jeffrey E.; Storm, Erik; Taylor, Janine M.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USA; [Beckett, Elizabeth M.; Lafuente, Antonio] Purdue Univ, Dept Nucl Engn, W Lafayette, IN 47907 USA; [Beckett, Elizabeth M.; Lafuente, Antonio] Univ Politecn Madrid, ETSI Ind, Madrid, Spain; [Powers, Jeffrey J.; Seifried, Jeffrey E.] Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Nucl Engn, Berkeley, CA 94720 USAFusion Sci. Technol.here
K. J. Kramer., et al.,“Fusion technologies for Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE)”., Seventh International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications, EPJ Web of Conferences,59 11001 (2011)2011“Fusion technologies for Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE)”Seventh International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications, EPJ Web of Conferenceshere
J. F. Latkowski., et al.,Chamber Design for the Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) Engine., Fusion Sci. Technol.,60 (2011)2011Chamber Design for the Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) Engine[Latkowski, Jeffery F.; Abbott, Ryan P.; Aceves, Sal; Anklam, Tom; Cook, Andrew W.; DeMuth, James; Divol, Laurent; El-Dasher, Bassem; Farmer, Joseph C.; Flowers, Dan; Fratoni, Massimiliano; Kane, Jave; Kramer, Kevin J.; Lafuente, Antonio; Loosmore, Gwendolen A.; Morris, Kevin R.; Olson, Britton; Reyes, Susana; Rhodes, Mark; Sawicki, Rick; Scott, Howard; Tabak, Max; Wilks, Scott] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USA; [Heltemes, Thad; Moses, Gregory A.] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Engn Phys, Madison, WI 53706 USA; [Kramer, Richard; Pantano, Carlos] Univ Illinois, Dept Mech Engn, Urbana, IL 61801 USA; [Lafuente, Antonio] Univ Politecn Madrid, ETSI Ind, Madrid, SpainFusion Sci. Technol.here
R. W. Moir., et al.,Molten salt fuel version of Laser Inertial Fusion Fission Energy (LIFE)., Fusion Sci. Technol.,56 (2009)2009Molten salt fuel version of Laser Inertial Fusion Fission Energy (LIFE)[Moir, R. W.; Shaw, H. F.; Caro, A.; Latkowski, J. F.; Turchi, P. E. A.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USA; [Kaufman, Larry] CALPHAD Inc, Brookline, MA 02445 USA; [Powers, J.] UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USAFusion Sci. Technol.here
S. Reyes., et al.,“Overview of the LIFE fuel cycle”., Seventh International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications, EPJ Web of Conferences,59 11001 (2011)2011“Overview of the LIFE fuel cycle”Seventh International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications, EPJ Web of Conferenceshere
S. Reyes., et al.,LIFE Tritium Processing: A Sustainable Solution for Closing the Fusion Fuel Cycle., Fusion Sci. Technol.,64 (2013)2013LIFE Tritium Processing: A Sustainable Solution for Closing the Fusion Fuel Cycle[Reyes, S.; Anklam, T.; Dunne, M.; Farmer, J.; Flowers, D.; Kramer, K.; Martinez-Frias, J.; Miles, R.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA USA; [Babineau, D.; Becnel, J.] Savannah River Natl Lab, Aiken, SC USA; [Taylor, C.] Los Alamos Natl Lab, Los Alamos, NM USAFusion Sci. Technol.here
R. Sacks., et al.,Parameter Study of an Inertial Fusion Energy Chamber Response Using the 1-D BUCKY Radiation Hydrodynamics Code., Fusion Sci. Technol.,66 (2014)2014Parameter Study of an Inertial Fusion Energy Chamber Response Using the 1-D BUCKY Radiation Hydrodynamics Code[Sacks, Ryan; Moses, Gregory] Univ Wisconsin, Fus Technol Inst, Madison, WI 53706 USA; [Tang, Vincent; Kramer, Kevin; Scott, Howard; Demuth, James] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USAFusion Sci. Technol.here
S. C. Wilks., et al.,Evaluation of Several Issues Concerning Laser Beam Propagation Through the LIFE Target Chamber., Fusion Sci. Technol.,56 (2009)2009Evaluation of Several Issues Concerning Laser Beam Propagation Through the LIFE Target Chamber[Wilks, S. C.; Cohen, B. I.; Latkowski, J. F.; Williams, E. A.] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USAFusion Sci. Technol.here
H. Uddin., et al.,Integrated inertial fusion energy chamber dynamics and response., Fusion Eng. Des.,89 (2014)2014Integrated inertial fusion energy chamber dynamics and response[Uddin, Hasib; Kramer, Richard; Pantano, Carlos] Univ Illinois, Dept Mech Sci & Engn, Urbana, IL 61801 USA; [Sacks, Ryan; Moses, Gregory] Univ Wisconsin, Fus Technol Inst, Madison, WI 53706 USA; [Kramer, Kevin; Tang, Vincent; Hunt, Ryan; DeMuth, James; Scott, Howard; Dunne, A. Mike] Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Livermore, CA 94550 USAFusion Eng. Des.here
E. Beckett and M. Fratoni., et al.,“Characterization of High Level Waste from a Hybrid LIFE Engine for Enhanced Repository Performance”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-455920 (2010)2010“Characterization of High Level Waste from a Hybrid LIFE Engine for Enhanced Repository Performance”LLNL Technical Reporthere
J. DeMuth and A. J. Simon., et al.,“LIFE Chamber Chemical Equilibrium Simulations with Additive Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-416959 (2009)2009“LIFE Chamber Chemical Equilibrium Simulations with Additive Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen”LLNL Technical Reporthere
J. Farmer., et al.,“Options for Burning LWR SNF in LIFE Engine”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-407560 (2008)2008“Options for Burning LWR SNF in LIFE Engine”LLNL Technical Reporthere
J. Farmer., et al.,“LIFE vs. LWR: End of the Fuel Cycle” ., LLNL Technical Report,, LLNL-TR-408781 (2008)2008“LIFE vs. LWR: End of the Fuel Cycle” LLNL Technical Report,here
J. Farmer., et al.,“The Complete Burning of Weapons Grade Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium with (Laser Inertial Fusion-Fission Energy) LIFE Engine”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-410152 (2009)2009“The Complete Burning of Weapons Grade Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium with (Laser Inertial Fusion-Fission Energy) LIFE Engine”LLNL Technical Reporthere
K. J. Kramer., et al.,“Nuclear Design of Fissile Pu and HEU LIFE Engine-NA22”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-416653 (2009)2009“Nuclear Design of Fissile Pu and HEU LIFE Engine-NA22”LLNL Technical Reporthere
J. Powers., et al.,“Preliminary Neutronics Design Studies for a Molten Salt Blanket LIFE Engine”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-408454 (2008)2008“Preliminary Neutronics Design Studies for a Molten Salt Blanket LIFE Engine”LLNL Technical Reporthere
J. E. Seifried., et al.,“Thermal Modeling and Feedback Requirements for LIFE Neutronic Simulations” ., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-416167 (2009)2009“Thermal Modeling and Feedback Requirements for LIFE Neutronic Simulations” LLNL Technical Reporthere
J. Farmer., et al.,“LIFE Materials: Overview of Fuels and Structural Materials Issue”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-407386 (2008)2008“LIFE Materials: Overview of Fuels and Structural Materials Issue”LLNL Technical Reporthere
J. Farmer., et al.,“LIFE Materials: Corrosion and Environmental Cracking of Structural and Cladding Materials”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-408942 (2008)2008“LIFE Materials: Corrosion and Environmental Cracking of Structural and Cladding Materials”LLNL Technical Reporthere
P. A. Turchi., et al.,“Phase Formation and Transformations in Transmutation Fuel Materials for the LIFE Engine Part I- Path Forward” ., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-408947 (2008)2008“Phase Formation and Transformations in Transmutation Fuel Materials for the LIFE Engine Part I- Path Forward” LLNL Technical Reporthere
R. W. Moir., et al.,“LIFE Materials: Molten-Salt Fuels”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-409526 (2008)2008“LIFE Materials: Molten-Salt Fuels”LLNL Technical Reporthere
A. Caro., et al.,“LIFE Materials: Topical Assessment Report for LIFE, TOPIC: Solid First Wall and Structural Components Task: Radiation Effects on First Wall” ., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-409726 (2009)2009“LIFE Materials: Topical Assessment Report for LIFE, TOPIC: Solid First Wall and Structural Components Task: Radiation Effects on First Wall” LLNL Technical Reporthere
H. Shaw and J. A. Blink., et al.,“LIFE Materials: Fuel cycle and Repository”., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-409725 (2008)2008“LIFE Materials: Fuel cycle and Repository”LLNL Technical Reporthere
P. A. Turchi., et al.,“LIFE Materials: Phase Formation and Transformations in Transmutation Fuel Materials for the LIFE Engine Part I- Path Forward” ., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-410158 (2008)2008“LIFE Materials: Phase Formation and Transformations in Transmutation Fuel Materials for the LIFE Engine Part I- Path Forward” LLNL Technical Reporthere
A. Caro., et al.,“LIFE Materials: Thermomechanical Effects” ., LLNL Technical Report, LLNL-TR-412921 (2009)2009“LIFE Materials: Thermomechanical Effects” LLNL Technical Reporthere