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Optimization of a high-yield, low-areal-density fusion product source at the National Ignition Facility with applications in nucleosynthesis experiments

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5017746· OSTI ID:1427024
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  1. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States); HEDP DIVISION, MIT PLASMA SCIENCE AND FUSION CENTER
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  4. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States). Dept. of Physics
  5. Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
  6. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
  7. General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
  8. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
  9. AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading (United Kingdom)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Polar-direct-drive exploding pushers are used as a high-yield, low-areal-density fusion product source at the National Ignition Facility with applications including diagnostic calibration, nuclear security, backlighting, electron-ion equilibration, and nucleosynthesis-relevant experiments. In this paper, two different paths to improving the performance of this platform are explored: (i) optimizing the laser drive, and (ii) optimizing the target. While the present study is specifically geared towards nucleosynthesis experiments, the results are generally applicable. Example data from T2/3He-gas-filled implosions with trace deuterium are used to show that yield and ion temperature (Tion) from 1.6 mm-outer-diameter thin-glass-shell capsule implosions are improved at a set laser energy by switching from a ramped to a square laser pulse shape, and that increased laser energy further improves yield and Tion, although by factors lower than predicted by 1 D simulations. Using data from D2-3He-gas-filled implosions, yield at a set Tion is experimentally verified to increase with capsule size. Uniform D-3He-proton spectra from 3 mm-outer-diameter CH shell implosions demonstrate the utility of this platform for studying charged-particle-producing reactions relevant to stellar nucleosynthesis.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0002949
OSTI ID:
1427024
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1425248
OSTI ID: 1458697
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 25; ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (2)

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