Status, research requirements and potential applications for nuclear pumped lasers

Mechanisms and various approaches to nuclear pumping of lasers are reviewed. Experimental results to date (including various noble gas lasers and more recent N2-He-CO2 and O2(1 delta)-I2 transfer lasers) are briefly noted. Both physics issues (e.g., electron energy distributions) and technology issues (e.g., coatings vs. UF6 neutron interaction regions) are identified. Finally, considerations involved in potentially attractive applications such as space nuclear laser systems and neutron feedback inertial confinement fusion are outlined.