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Title: Analysis of the neutron time-of-flight spectra from inertial confinement fusion experiments

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935455· OSTI ID:1240967

Neutron time-of-flight diagnostics have long been used to characterize the neutron spectrum produced by inertial confinement fusion experiments. The primary diagnostic goals are to extract the d+t → n+α (DT) and d+d→ n+3He (DD) neutron yields and peak widths, and the amount DT scattering relative to its unscattered yield, also known as the down-scatter ratio (DSR). These quantities are used to infer yield weighted plasma conditions, such as ion temperature (Tion) and cold fuel areal density. We report on novel methodologies used to determine neutron yield, apparent Tion, and DSR. These methods invoke a single temperature, static fluid model to describe the neutron peaks from DD and DT reactions and a spline description of the DT spectrum to determine the DSR. Both measurements are performed using a forward modeling technique that includes corrections for line-of-sight attenuation and impulse response of the detection system. Lastly, these methods produce typical uncertainties for DT Tion of 250 eV, 7% for DSR, and 9% for the DT neutron yield. For the DD values, the uncertainties are 290 eV for Tion and 10% for the neutron yield.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1240967
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1225817; OSTI ID: 1341985
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-675169; LLNL-JRNL-686422; JAPIAU
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 118, Issue 18; ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 86 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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The high velocity, high adiabat, “Bigfoot” campaign and tests of indirect-drive implosion scaling journal May 2018
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Nuclear diagnostics for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) plasmas journal January 2020
Ab initio response functions for Cherenkov-based neutron detectors journal October 2018
Fuel-shell interface instability growth effects on the performance of room temperature direct-drive implosions journal August 2019
A near one-dimensional indirectly driven implosion at convergence ratio 30 journal May 2018
In-flight neutron spectra as an ICF diagnostic for implosion asymmetries journal February 2018
Using a 2-shock 1D platform at NIF to measure the effect of convergence on mix and symmetry journal October 2018
Dynamic high energy density plasma environments at the National Ignition Facility for nuclear science research journal February 2018
Implementation of the foil-on-hohlraum technique for the magnetic recoil spectrometer for time-resolved neutron measurements at the National Ignition Facility journal November 2018
Implosion performance of subscale beryllium capsules on the NIF journal May 2019
Neutron backscatter edge: A measure of the hydrodynamic properties of the dense DT fuel at stagnation in ICF experiments journal January 2020
Velocity correction for neutron activation diagnostics at the NIF journal October 2018
Calibration of a neutron time-of-flight detector with a rapid instrument response function for measurements of bulk fluid motion on OMEGA journal October 2018
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Characterization of photodetector temporal response for neutron time-of-flight (nToF) diagnostics at the National Ignition Facility journal October 2018
Uncertainty analysis of response functions and γ-backgrounds on T ion and t 0 measurements from Cherenkov neutron detectors at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) journal October 2018
Average neutron time-of-flight instrument response function inferred from single D-T neutron events within a plastic scintillator journal October 2018
The effect of scattered neutrons on the ion temperature measurement with different line-of-sight on the SGIII laser facility journal January 2019
Optimization of a high-yield, low-areal-density fusion product source at the National Ignition Facility with applications in nucleosynthesis experiments journal May 2018
Using multiple neutron time of flight detectors to determine the hot spot velocity journal October 2018
Neutron Time-of-Flight Measurements of Charged-Particle Energy Loss in Inertial Confinement Fusion Plasmas journal October 2019
Synthetic nuclear diagnostics for inferring plasma properties of inertial confinement fusion implosions journal December 2018
Variable convergence liquid layer implosions on the National Ignition Facility journal May 2018
A fused silica Cherenkov radiator for high precision time-of-flight measurement of DT γ and neutron spectra (invited) journal October 2018
Fusion-neutron measurements for magnetized liner inertial fusion experiments on the Z accelerator journal May 2016
Experimental results of radiation-driven, layered deuterium-tritium implosions with adiabat-shaped drives at the National Ignition Facility journal October 2016
Beryllium capsule implosions at a case-to-capsule ratio of 3.7 on the National Ignition Facility journal October 2018
Impact of temperature-velocity distribution on fusion neutron peak shape journal May 2017