Laser and ion beam inertial fusion research has made remarkable progress during the last two years. As a highlight of the 22nd IAEA Fusion Energy Conference among over 30 presentations the National Ignition Facility has been reported for completion as of 27 March 2009 to achieve the first fusion shot within 2010 or 2011 with a central ignition scheme. The LFEX and OMEGA-EP fast ignition lasers have also been completed to start fast ignition feasibility studies as early as in 2009. Relativistic physics revealed many new findings on hot electron energy transport and production. For example, several proposals have been reported to control the hot electron divergence angle. Laser technology has challenged to meet the specification required for fast ignition experiments such as in the LFEX and OMEGA-EP. Target development is making steady progress to be ready for the forthcoming fast ignition integral and ion beam experiments. The LIFE engine (Laser Inertial-Confinement Fusion Fission Energy) was announced from the USA to accelerate the energy production making use of the NIF type fusion outputs in order to prepare for 'beyond the ignition' as early as 2020. KOYO-F from Osaka University, Z-machine and HiPER European projects have been reported.
Inertial confinement fusion: steady progress towards ignition and high gain (summary talk)