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Review

Future for Inertial Fusion Energy in Europe: A roadmap

Publicated to:High Power Laser Science And Engineering. 11 e83- - 2023-09-28 11(), DOI: 10.1017/hpl.2023.80

Authors: Batani, D; Colaïtis, A; Consoli, F; Danson, CN; Gizzi, LA; Honrubia, J; Kühl, T; Le Pape, S; Miquel, JL; Perlado, JM; Scott, RHH; Tatarakis, M; Tikhonchuk, V; Volpe, L

Affiliations

ALP, Le Barp, France - Author
Atomic Weapons Establishment , Imperial College London - Author
AWE, Reading, England - Author
CEA DAM Ile France, Arpajon, France - Author
CEA Dam Ile-de France , ALP - Author
Central Laser Facility - Author
Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications - Author
Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications , ELI Beamlines - Author
Centro de Láseres Pulsados , Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Author
CNR - Istituto Nazionale di Ottica - Author
Consiglio Nazl Ric CNR INO, Ist Nazl Ott, Pisa, Italy - Author
CR Frascati, Fus & Technol Nucl Safety & Secur Dept, ENEA, Frascati, Italy - Author
Ctr Laseres Pulsados CLPU, Parque Cient, Salamanca, Spain - Author
Ecole Polytech, Lab Utilisat Lasers Intenses LULI, CNRS, Palaiseau, France - Author
ELI Beamlines Facil, Extreme Light Infrastruct ERIC, Dolni Brezany, Czech Republic - Author
ENEA Centro Ricerche Frascati - Author
GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research GmbH - Author
GSI Helmholtzzentrum Schwerionenforsch GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany - Author
Hellen Mediterranean Univ, Sch Engn, Dept Elect Engn, Iraklion, Greece - Author
Hellen Mediterranean Univ, Univ Res & Innovat Ctr, Inst Plasma Phys & Lasers, Iraklion, Greece - Author
Hellenic Mediterranean University - Author
Imperial Coll London, Ctr Inertial Fus Studies, Blackett Lab, London, England - Author
Instituto de Fusión Nuclear - Author
Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses - Author
STFC Rutherford Appleton Lab, Cent Laser Facil, Oxford, Oxon, England - Author
Univ Bordeaux, Ctr Lasers Intenses & Applicat CELIA, CNRS, CEA, F-33405 Talence, France - Author
Univ Bordeaux, Ctr Lasers Intenses & Applicat CELIA, CNRS, CEA, Talence, France - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, ETSIAE, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Inst Fus Nucl Guillermo Velarde IFN GV, Madrid, Spain - Author
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Author
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Abstract

The recent achievement of fusion ignition with laser-driven technologies at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) sets a historic milestone in fusion energy research. This milestone paves the way for using laser inertial fusion as a viable approach for future energy production. Europe has a unique opportunity to empower research in this field internationally, and the scientific community is eager to engage in this journey. We propose establishing a European program on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) with the mission to demonstrate laser-driven ignition in the direct drive scheme and to develop pathway technologies for the commercial fusion reactor. The proposed roadmap is based on four complementary axes: i) the physics of laser-plasma interaction and burning plasmas, ii) high energy high repetition rate laser technology, iii) fusion reactor technology and materials, and iv) reinforcement of the laser-fusion community by international education and training programmes. We foresee collaboration with universities, research centres, and industry and establishing joint activities with the private sector involved in laser fusion. This project aims to stimulate a broad range of high-profile industrial developments in laser, plasma, and radiation technologies along with the expected high-level socio-economic impact.

Keywords

conditions relevantconfinement-fusiondensity physicselectron-transportfusion reactor technologyhigh repetition rate laserhigh-energy laserinertial confinement fusioninnovative educationlaser-matter interactionslaser-plasma interactionplasmas powerlapspolar direct-drivepublic-private partnershipradiation resistant materialsx-rayEducation and trainingFusion reactor technologyHigh energy laserHigh repetition rate laserInertial confinement fusionLaser plasma interactionPublic-private partnershipRadiation resistant materialsStimulated raman-scattering

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal High Power Laser Science And Engineering due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 18/119, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Optics.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.68. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 3.04 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 18.08 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-17, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 12
  • Scopus: 21

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-17:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 48.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 48 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 0.5.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Czech Republic; France; Germany; Greece; Italy; United Kingdom.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (VOLPE, LUCA).