Direct-drive ICF target with compound ablator containing a low-density component

The results of theoretical investigation of implosion and combustion of a direct-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target as a shell with compound outer layer (ablator) intended to absorb laser radiation and produce the ablation pressure compressing the target are presented. It is proposed to supplement the solid ablator of conventional ICF target with an outer layer of a low-density porous substance with density corresponding to the nearly critical one of laser-produced plasma. It is shown that for a laser pulse with energy of 2–3 MJ, designed to ignite the deuterium-tritium reaction in modern experiments, the target with a compound ablator can provide a significant increase in fusion energy yield when the mass fraction of low-density component is in (10–15) % interval.