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A pulsed-power implementation of “Laser Gate” for increasing laser energy coupling and fusion yield in magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF)

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5139663· OSTI ID:1633986

Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) at Sandia National Laboratories involves a laser preheating stage,where a few-ns laser pulse passes through a few-micron-thick plastic window to preheat gaseous fusion fuel contained within the MagLIF target. Interactions with this window reduce heating e ciency and mix window and target materials into the fuel. A recently proposed idea called \Laser Gate" involves removing the window well before the preheating laser is applied. In this article, we introduce experimental proof-of-principle results for a pulsed-power implementation of Laser Gate, where a thin current-carrying wire weakens the perimeter of the window, allowing the fuel pressure to push the window open and away from the preheating laser path. For this e ort, transparent targets were fabricated and a test facility capable of studying this version of Laser Gate was developed. A 12-frame bright- eld laser schlieren/shadowgraphy imaging system captured the window opening dynamics on microsecond timescales. The images exhibit that the window remains largely intact as it opens and detaches from the target. A column of escaping pressurized gas appears to prevent the detached window from inadvertently moving into the preheating laser path.

Research Organization:
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003764
OSTI ID:
1633986
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1634187
OSTI ID: 1778052
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 91; ISSN 0034-6748
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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