Lessons from Two Years of Building Fusion Ignition Targets with the Precision Robotic Assembly Machine

Conference · Fri Feb 19 00:00:00 EST 2010

OSTI ID:992274

Montesanti, R C; Alger, E T; Atherton, L J; Bhandarkar, S D; Castro, C; Dzenitis, E G; Hamza, A V; Klingmann, J L; Nikroo, A; Parham, T G; Reynolds, J L; Seugling, R M; Swisher, M F; Taylor, J S; Witte, M C

The Precision Robotic Assembly Machine was developed to manufacture the small and intricate laser-driven fusion ignition targets that are being used in the world's largest and most energetic laser, the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The National Ignition Campaign (NIC) goal of using the NIF to produce a self-sustaining nuclear fusion burn with energy gain - for the first time ever in a laboratory setting - requires targets that are demanding in materials fabrication, machining, and assembly. We provide an overview of the design and function of the machine, with emphasis on the aspects that revolutionized how NIC targets are manufactured.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 992274
• Report Number(s): LLNL-PROC-424343; TRN: US1007722
• Resource Relation: Conference: Presented at: 10th International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering & Nanotechnology, Delft, Netherlands, May 31 - Jun 03, 2010
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
ACCURACY
DESIGN
FABRICATION
IGNITION
MACHINING
TARGETS
US NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY