Summary of lectures presented in the Shell Seminar Series at the national convention of the National Science Teachers Association, April 7-10, 1988. Topics covered are: The Standard model, symmetry breaking, the superconducting supercollider, physics at the TEV scale, and the early universe.

Progress during the past two years has moved us much closer to demonstrating the scientific and technological requirements for high gain ICF in the laboratory. This progress has been made possible by operating at the third harmonic of 1..mu..m light which dramatically reduces concern about hot electrons and by advances in diagnostics such as 100 ps x-ray framing cameras which greatly increase the data available from each experiment. Making use of many of these new capabilities, major improvements in confinement conditions have been achieved for ICF implosions. In particular, in an optimized hohlraum on Nova, radiation driven implosions with convergence ratio in excess of 30 (volume compression /approximately/3 /times/ 10/sup 4/) have performed essentially as predicted by spherical implosion calculations. This paper presents these results as well as examples of advances in several other areas and discusses the implications for the future of ICF with lasers and heavy ion beam drivers. 8 refs., 10 figs.

The output from a laser-driven high-fain ICF target in the laboratory microfusion facility (LMF) target chamber could produce enough x-rays, shrapnel, and debris to severely damage the laser's final optics. If the final optics were left unprotected, the replacement and reinstallation costs for each beam would exceed $40K. Assuming the laser has 68 beams, the replacement costs for each shot could reach $2.7M. To avoid these excessive costs, we must design a reliable optics protection system. This requires that we define the hazardous environment to which the optics are exposed. The geometrical layout for the 68 beams of the 10 megajoule laser shows the final optics placed at 25 meters from the target. The final optic will be a 2--5 cm thick debris shield ($40K each) which will be placed in front of a $200K focussing lens. Each of the 68 beams will deliver 150 kJ of 0.35 ..mu..m (3..omega..) light and will consist of either a 4 /times/ 4 or a 2 /times/ 8 array of beamlets, with each beamlet aperture having dimensions of 29 cm /times/ 29cm. This produces a 3..omega.. energy density at the final optic of 12J/cm/sup 2/ average and 225-30J/cm/sup 2/peak. 8 refs., 4 figs., …

A conceptual design of an experiment chamber for a high gain ICF facility (1000 MJ) is being developed. Performance goals have been established. Several design approaches are being evaluated through computer simulation, engineering analysis, and experimental testing of candidate first wall components. 10 refs., 3 figs.

The use of powerful microwave sources provide unique opportunities for novel and efficient heating and current-drive schemes in the electron-cyclotron and lower-hybrid ranges of frequencies. Free- electron lasers and relativistic klystrons are new sources that have a number of technical advantages over conventional, lower-intensity sources; their use can lead to improved current-drive efficiencies and better penetration into a reactor-grade plasma in specific cases. This paper reports on modeling of absorption and current drive, in intense-pulse and quasilinear regimes, and on analysis of parametric instabilities and self-focusing. 16 refs., 2 figs.