[en] This book presents, first, the basic nuclear physics and plasma physics principles at the origin of the researches on nuclear fusion which started in the 1950's. Then the magnetic and inertial confinement principles are described with their corresponding facilities: the tokamaks and the laser-induced inertial confinement fusion devices. After a brief outline of some exotic processes, the book describes some projects of thermonuclear power plants capable to supply electricity by the end of the 21. century. (J.S.)

[en] This bibliographical note presents a book which comments and discusses data and trends regarding demography, resource exploitation, transport networks, pace of discoveries and innovations. It also analyses various scenarios which have been considered until now. The first part proposes a synthesis of the Energy 2010 workshop. It addresses the problematic of a future energy transition, factors of evolution (environmental impacts, supply flows, technological responses, societal acceptability, and energy costs), predictions for 2050, and choices for the long term. The second part addresses data, constraints and scenarios related to: energy sources, population and energy demand, constraint related to climate, trends, evolutions and crisis, technological context from now until 2050 (in terms of energy sources and stock, of associated risks), guidelines and scenarios for action, constraints and options for energy policies, perspectives for the second half of the century

No abstract available

[en] The authors propose a synthesis of works performed by the Prospective 2100 association on the issue of energy. They comment the strongly increasing energy demand which is related to demographic growth and urbanization, the evolution of energy supply at an always increasing cost, and the needed evolution of the energy mix. They notice that electricity demand increases faster than the global energy demand. They discuss the evolution of solar and wind energy (challenge of energy storage), the development of the industrial sector of electricity production and distribution, and the impacts of political choices on energy sectors. They discuss the possible evolutions of the energy sector which are based either on the improvements of existing technologies, or on the emergence of new technologies on the market. They outline the various environmental, economic and geopolitical constraints, state that they expect a great energy transition during the 21. century, discuss the objectives defined for 2050 in terms of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and draw perspectives for the second half of the century

[en] The author, who has been a witness of the adventure of laser-induced nuclear fusion, proposes a historical overview of this technology which emerged in all developed countries. After a recall on nuclear fusion and on lasers (which have emerged in the early 1960's), he reports the first steps with the creation of a scientific community on this theme, the study of laser-matter interactions, and of plasma creation. He focuses on the case of France with the partnership between the CEA and the CGE, the activities of the laboratories of Marcoussis, the role of Jean Robieux, and other aspects such as standards and lobbying, the activities of the CEA centre in Limeil, laser-induced gas breakdown, the irradiation of solid surfaces, and other researches. Then, he addresses the evolution towards the detection of nuclear fusion reactions, and the new fields explored during the early 1970's. He proposes an overview of the evolution of the science of laser plasma interaction, and the study of inertial fusion during these pioneering days. He also discusses the last evolutions

[en] Laser driven accelerators are capable of producing multi nC, multi MeV electron beams with transverse and longitudinal sizes on the order of microns. To investigate the transport of such electron bunches, a fast and fully relativistic space charge code which can handle beams with arbitrarily large energy spread has been developed. A 6-D macroparticle model for the beam is used to calculate the space charge fields at each time step. The collection of macroparticles is divided into longitudinal momentum bins, each with a small spread in relative momentum. The macroparticle distribution in each momentum bin is decomposed into ellipsoidal shells in position space. For each shell, an analytical expression for the electrostatic force in the bin rest frame is used. The total space charge force acting on one macroparticle in the lab frame is then the vector sum of the Lorentz-transformed forces from all the momentum bins. We have used this code to study the evolution of typical beams emerging from the plasma in the two most popular schemes, i.e., the self-modulated laser-wakefield-accelerator, where the laser pulse size is many times the plasma wavelength (L >> lr), and the colliding pulse laser-wakefield-accelerator regime where L-lr and two counter propagating laser pulses are used to inject electrons into the wakefield

[en] Inspired by a dialog written by Galileo in 1632, the author proposes a discussion between three persons with different points of view on the relationships between mankind and Nature, and on the lessons which can be learned for a necessary energy transition. He addresses the place of man in ecosystems, the issues of climate and energy, the organisation of society, and so on

[en] Developed on behalf of decision-makers or whistle-blowers, scenarios describe stories that could happen. They involve assumptions about the socio-economic future of humanity and must take account of constraints, the main one being the threat of man-made climate change. (author)

[en] The wind and sun are intermittent sources of renewable energy. Managing them to produce electricity is a problem with several solutions. Not all solutions are, however, compatible with the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus ward off the threat of climate change

[en] Laser driven accelerators are capable of producing multi nC, multi MeV electron beams with transverse and longitudinal sizes on the order of microns. To investigate the transport of such electron bunches, a fast and fully relativistic space charge code which can handle beams with arbitrarily large energy spread has been developed. A 6-D macroparticle model for the beam is used to calculate the space charge fields at each time step. The collection of macroparticles is divided into longitudinal momentum bins, each with a small spread in relative momentum. The macroparticle distribution in each momentum bin is decomposed into ellipsoidal shells in position space. For each shell, an analytical expression for the electrostatic force in the bin rest frame is used. The total space charge force acting on one macroparticle in the lab frame is then the vector sum of the Lorentz-transformed forces from all the momentum bins. We have used this code to study the evolution of typical beams emerging from the plasma in the two most popular schemes, i.e., the self-modulated laser-wakefield-accelerator, where the laser pulse size is many times the plasma wavelength (L >> λp), and the colliding pulse laser-wakefield-accelerator regime where L ∼ λp and two counterpropagationg laser pulses are used to inject electrons into the wakefield