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Near-vacuum hohlraums for driving fusion implosions with high density carbon ablatorsa)

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921151· OSTI ID:1771032

Recent experiments at the National Ignition Facility [M. J. Edwards et al., Phys. Plasmas 20, 070501 (2013)] have explored driving high-density carbon ablators with near-vacuum hohlraums, which use a minimal amount of helium gas fill. These hohlraums show improved efficiency relative to conventional gas-filled hohlraums in terms of minimal backscatter, minimal generation of suprathermal electrons, and increased hohlraum-capsule coupling. Given these advantages, near-vacuum hohlraums are a promising choice for pursuing high neutron yield implosions. Long pulse symmetry control, though, remains a challenge, as the hohlraum volume fills with material. Here, two mitigation methodologies have been explored, dynamic beam phasing and increased case-to-capsule ratio (larger hohlraum size relative to capsule). Unexpectedly, experiments have demonstrated that the inner laser beam propagation is better than predicted by nominal simulations, and an enhanced beam propagation model is required to match measured hot spot symmetry. Ongoing work is focused on developing a physical model which captures this enhanced propagation and on utilizing the enhanced propagation to drive longer laser pulses than originally predicted in order to reach alpha-heating dominated neutron yields.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1771032
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1228305
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL--666580; 787308
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 22; ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cryogenic tritium-hydrogen-deuterium and deuterium-tritium layer implosions with high density carbon ablators in near-vacuum hohlraums journal June 2015
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Symmetry control of an indirectly driven high-density-carbon implosion at high convergence and high velocity journal May 2017
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The relationship between gas fill density and hohlraum drive performance at the National Ignition Facility journal May 2017
The effects of convergence ratio on the implosion behavior of DT layered inertial confinement fusion capsules journal July 2017
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Implementing time resolved electron temperature capability at the NIF using a streak camera journal October 2018
Implosion shape control of high-velocity, large case-to-capsule ratio beryllium ablators at the National Ignition Facility journal July 2018
Probing the seeding of hydrodynamic instabilities from nonuniformities in ablator materials using 2D velocimetry journal September 2018
Kinetic effects on neutron generation in moderately collisional interpenetrating plasma flows journal January 2019
Stimulated Raman scattering instability of a left-handed circularly polarized laser in strongly axially magnetized plasmas journal January 2019
Robustness to hydrodynamic instabilities in indirectly driven layered capsule implosions journal January 2019
Experimental study of energy transfer in double shell implosions journal May 2019
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Beyond alpha-heating: driving inertially confined fusion implosions toward a burning-plasma state on the National Ignition Facility journal November 2018
A 3D dynamic model to assess the impacts of low-mode asymmetry, aneurysms and mix-induced radiative loss on capsule performance across inertial confinement fusion platforms journal December 2018
Progress of indirect drive inertial confinement fusion in the United States journal July 2019
Anomalous mix induced by a collisionless shock wave in an inertial confinement fusion hohlraum journal August 2019
Development of Improved Radiation Drive Environment for High Foot Implosions at the National Ignition Facility journal November 2016
First Liquid Layer Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions at the National Ignition Facility journal December 2016
Thermal Temperature Measurements of Inertial Fusion Implosions journal August 2018
A novel three-axis cylindrical hohlraum designed for inertial confinement fusion ignition preprint January 2016

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