PREPARATION METHODS OF HOLLOW GLASS MICROSPHERES USED FOR LASER FUSION TARGETS

High quality hollow glass microspheres are one of the most widely used targets for innertial confinement laser-driven fu-sion experiments.The available commercial products are not sufficient for these experiments,so new methods were developed for this specific purpose.The new methods include the liquid droplet method,the dried-gel method,the sputtering method and the depoly-merizable mandrel technique.The preparation mechanism and process,the glass shell properties,status and situation of these prepara-tion methods in the target preparation experiment in innertial confinement fusion were analyzed and summarized.Glass shells made from the liquid droplets are smaller in diameter and thinner in wall thickness.Glass shells made from the dried-gel method are larger and thicker.The glass coatings produced by sputtering can provide a permeation barrier.The depolymerizable mandrel technique greatly extends the range of diameter and wall thickness,and can prepare the most excellent glass shell with the optimal size and properties.