Review and status of Antares

The paper describes the laser fusion activity at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory which evolved from early experiments with an electron-beam-controlled large aperture CO2 laser to the massive engineering of a 100-kJ laser fusion machine. The Antares machine was designed to achieve the energy production of the target to be equal or to exceed the energy input to the target; the machine has 72 beams for 'electron-beam gun economy'; its most important limitations including optical are discussed. The Antares facility is described including the warehouse, the facilities support building, the laser and energy storage hall, and the target building. The Antares schedule consisting of a power amplifier and energy storage system, electrical and small signal testing, single beam front end ready, single-sector energy extraction, and 17 kJ/1 ns pulse centered and focused equipment are given.