Overview

This book describes the history of the research on inertial confinement nuclear fusion over the past 50 years. It is written by the leading scientists in this field and authentic protagonists of this period which started during the Cold War, as classified research in France, former USSR, United Kingdom and USA and as open research in Japan, Germany, Italy, Israel and Spain. The idea of publishing this book emerged years ago when Nobel Laureate Nicloai G. Basov, together with Professor Guillermo Velarde, decided to compile the history of inertial confinement fusion, inviting the participation of its pioneers. Both Basov and Velarde believed that only the pioneers involved in the research itself could relate to this history in a realistic and truthful manner. Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) is an interdisciplinary research subject, its main goal is aimed at solving mankind's energy problem for generations to come. This noble idea started almost simultaneously with the development of thermonuclear weapons (known to the public as the hydrogen bomb). This apparently close affiliation hindered the progress in the energy research. The ICF research and technology for solving the problem of energy production turned out to be so difficult and complex that only a worldwide collaboration could advance the research and achieve a successful solution. The book presents the direct testimony and open account of the facts, events, dates and contrasting research which culminated in 1988 with the Madrid Manifesto. This was suggested by Erik Storm and Guillermo Velarde and was signed by more than one hundred scientists around the world. They claimed international and open collaboration and paved the way, in 1990 in the United States, for the declassification of more than 90% of the work related to inertial confinement nuclear fusion research. A total of 23 chapters are presented with the description of the work carried out in the main laboratories around the world - From West to East: In the United States - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, KMS (Michigan), Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory for Laser Energetics at Rochester University and Naval Research Laboratory; in Europe: Institute of Nuclear Fusion (Spain), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory - Central Laser Facility (United Kingdom), Gessellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung, GSI (Germany), Max Planck Institute fur Quantenoptik (Germany) Laboratorio Gas Ionizzati, ENEA, (Italy); in Israel: Soreq Nuclear Research Centre; and in the former Soviet Union: Kurchatov and Troisk Institutes, Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Lebedev Physical Institute, All Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics - VNIEF (Arzamas 16), All Russian Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics - VNITF (Chelyabinsk) It also present the work - from Japan: Insitute of Laser Engineering at Osaka University; and from Australia: University of New South Wales. Unfortunately, the contributions of Commisariat d'Energie Atomique and the Ecole Politechnique from France were not received. The chapters are written with emphasis as to why inertial confinement nuclear fusion was was chosen. They include a detailed overview of its beginnings and the first papers written by authors; their photographs and details of their teams, descriptions of unknown and significant episodes, as well as exciting technical descriptions and results. However the authors have focussed their account on their own personal perspectives. The result is an independent, personal and realistic account of historical data during the past 50 years. Level of readership is scientists, engineers, graduate and undergraduate students of science, history of science, philosophy of science and the intelligent reader.

Full Product Details

Author:   Guillermo Velarde ,  Natividad Carpintero Santamari
Publisher:   Foxwell & Davies (UK) Limited
Imprint:   Foxwell & Davies (UK) Limited
Dimensions:   Width: 21.00cm , Height: 4.50cm , Length: 27.00cm
Weight:   2.000kg
ISBN:  

9781905868100

ISBN 10:   1905868103
Pages:   542
Publication Date:   26 March 2007
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Awaiting stock  
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Table of Contents

CONTENTS Chapter 1. Contributions to the Genesis and Progress of ICF John Nuckolls (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL, USA) Chapter 2. Laser Fusion: the first ten years 1962-1972 Ray Kidder (Lawrece Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL,USA) Chapter 3. Lasers and ICF Experiments at Livermore John Holzrichter (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL, and F.J. Hertz Foundation, USA Chapter 4. A beginning for ICF by laser Keith A. Brueckner (KMS Fusion, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and University of California at San Diego, USA Chapter 5. A Pulsed Power Inertial Confinement Fusion Journay Gerold Yonas (Sandia National Laboratories, SNL, USA Chapter 6. History of LASL Keith Boyer (Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL, USA) Chapter 7. Highlights of the History of the University of Rochester Robert McCrory (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, LLE, Univ. Rochester, USA) Chapter 8. Laser Fusion Research at the Naval Research Laboratory Stephen Bodner (Naval Research Laboratory, NRL, USA) Chapter 9. Inertial Confinement Fusion Research in Spain: from a Difficult Beginning to a Hopeful Future. Guillermo Velarde (Spanish Atomic Energy Commission, JEN, and Institute of Nuclear Fusion, DENIM, Spain) Chapter 10. Adventures in Laser Produced Plasma Research Michael Key (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Central Laser Facility, RAL,CLF, UK and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL, USA) Chapter 11. Historical Remarks on the Heavy Ion Inertial Fusion Activities in Germany Rudolf Bock (Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung, GSI, Germany Chapter 12. Laser-Plasma Research at MPQ Klaus Witte, Richard Sigel (Max-Planck-Institut fur Quantenoptik, MPQ, Germany)

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