Demonstration of the Improved Rocket Efficiency in Direct-Drive Implosions Using Different Ablator Materials

Michel, D. T.; Goncharov, V. N.; Igumenshchev, I. V.; Epstein, R.; Froula, D. H.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.111.245005

Demonstration of the Improved Rocket Efficiency in Direct-Drive Implosions Using Different Ablator Materials

Journal Article · Wed Dec 11 04:00:00 EST 2013 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.111.245005· OSTI ID:1118255

Michel, D. T. ^[1]; Goncharov, V. N.; Igumenshchev, I. V.; Epstein, R.; Froula, D. H.

Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

The success of direct-drive implosions depends critically on the ability to create high ablation pressures (~ 100 Mbar) and accelerating the imploding shell to ignition-relevant velocities (> 3:7 10^7 cm/s) using direct laser illumination. This Letter reports on an experimental study of the conversion of absorbed laser energy into kinetic energy of the shell (rocket efficiency) where different ablators were used to vary the ratio of the atomic number to the atomic mass. The implosion velocity of Be shells is increased by 20% compared to C and CH shells in direct-drive implosions when a constant initial target mass is maintained. These measurements are consistent with the predicted increase in the rocket efficiency of 28% for Be and 5% for C compared to a CH ablator.

Research Organization:: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

DOE Contract Number:: FC52-08NA28302

OSTI ID:: 1118255

Report Number(s):: DOE/NA/28302-1157; 2013-106; 2126

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 111; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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