Completing the Fusion Fuel Cycle: From Kinetic Driver Modeling to Fuel Recovery

Achieving laser-driven deuterium-tritium fusion as a viable energy source requires a comprehensive understanding of the fuel cycle, from the kinetic dynamics driving neutron production to the efficient recovery of useable fuel. On the driver side, we investigate a predictive modeling framework using the Chicago 3-D hybrid PIC code to capture kinetic effects in laser-driven deuterated plastic targets, including non-thermal ion acceleration and anisotropic transport that fluid models miss. Ongoing experimental work at Sandia National Laboratory’s Z-backlighter facility provides benchmarks for model validation. On the fuel recovery side, we study metal hydride systems under extreme pressures to explore pressure-tunable hydrogen affinity as a potential solution for tritium extraction from lithium blankets proposed for use in nuclear reactors. Together, these efforts connect driver-target physics with high-pressure materials science toward a more complete framework for optimizing fusion energy systems.