Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A system comprising:a laser source adapted to provide a laser beam directed along an optical path, wherein the laser beam is characterized by an output power in the range of 1 petawatt or higher; anda target positioned along the optical path and including:a laser incidence area for receiving the laser beam;an electron generation region adapted to absorb a portion of the laser energy associated with the laser beam and generate a plurality of electrons along an electron path;a compression region disposed along the electron path; anda capsule embedded within the compression region and including deuterium tritium (DT) gas. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the target further includes a shock absorption region disposed between the electron generation region and the compression region, the shock absorption region configured to absorb a shock wave generated by the laser beam. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the laser source comprises a Titanium Sapphire laser. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the compression region includes a high Z material comprising one of gold, lead, tungsten, or silver. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the electron generation region includes a first material and the compression region includes a second material different from the first material. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the capsule includes an outer shell comprising a low Z material, wherein the low Z material comprises one of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, or carbon. 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the outer shell includes a plurality of layers. 8. The system of claim 6 wherein the outer shell comprises a porous material. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the porous material includes aerogel. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the capsule is characterized by a diameter of between 50 μm and 100 μm. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the target further includes an electron transport region disposed along the electron path between the electron generation region and the capsule. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the electron transport region comprises at least one of a high Z material or a low Z material, wherein the high Z material comprises one of gold, tungsten, lead or silver and the low Z material comprises one of silicon, beryllium, boron, or carbon. 13. A target comprising:a laser incidence area for receiving a laser beam;an electron generation region adapted to absorb a portion of laser energy associated with the laser beam and generate a plurality of electrons along an electron path;a compression region disposed along the electron path, the compression region configured to interact with the plurality of electrons and heat up to a first temperature of between 100 electron volts and 1000 electron volts; anda capsule embedded within the compression region and including deuterium tritium (DT) gas, wherein the capsule is configured to absorb radiated heat from the compression region and heat up to the first temperature. 14. The target of claim 13 further comprising a shock absorption region disposed between the electron generation region and the compression region, the shock absorption region configured to absorb a shock wave generated by the laser beam. 15. The target of claim 13 wherein the compression region includes a high Z material comprising one of gold, lead, tungsten, or silver. 16. The target of claim 13 wherein the electron generation region includes a first material and the compression region includes a second material different from the first material. 17. The target of claim 13 wherein the capsule includes an outer shell comprising a low Z material and wherein the low Z material includes at least one of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, or carbon. 18. The target of claim 17 wherein the outer shell includes a plurality of layers. 19. The target of claim 17 wherein the outer shell comprises a porous material and wherein the porous material includes aerogel. 20. The target of claim 13 further comprising an electron transport region disposed along the electron path between the electron generation region and the capsule, the electron transport region comprising at least one of a high Z material or a low Z material, wherein the high Z material comprises one of gold, tungsten, lead or silver and the low Z material comprises one of silicon, beryllium, boron, or carbon.