Lasergate: A windowless gas target for enhanced laser preheat in magnetized liner inertial fusion

Galloway, B. R.; Slutz, S. A.; Kimmel, M. W.; Rambo, P. K.; Schwarz, J.; Geissel, M.; Harvey-Thompson, A. J.; Weis, M. R.; Jennings, C. A.; Field, E. S.; Kletecka, D. E.; Looker, Q.; Colombo, A. P.; Edens, A. D.; Smith, I. C.; Shores, J. E.; Speas, C. S.; Speas, R. J.; Spann, A. P.; Sin, J.; Gautier, S.; Sauget, V.; Treadwell, P. A.; Rochau, G. A.; Porter, J. L.

doi:10.1063/5.0059334

Lasergate: A windowless gas target for enhanced laser preheat in magnetized liner inertial fusion

Journal Article · Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0059334· OSTI ID:2567716

; ; Kimmel, M. W.; ; Schwarz, J.; ; ; ; Jennings, C. A.; Field, E. S.; Kletecka, D. E.; ; Colombo, A. P.; Edens, A. D.; Smith, I. C.; Shores, J. E.; Speas, C. S.; Speas, R. J.; ; Sin, J. more »

At the Z Facility at Sandia National Laboratories, the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) program aims to study the inertial confinement fusion in deuterium-filled gas cells by implementing a three-step process on the fuel: premagnetization, laser preheat, and Z-pinch compression. In the laser preheat stage, the Z-Beamlet laser focuses through a thin polyimide window to enter the gas cell and heat the fusion fuel. However, it is known that the presence of the few μm thick window reduces the amount of laser energy that enters the gas and causes window material to mix into the fuel. These effects are detrimental to achieving fusion; therefore, a windowless target is desired. The Lasergate concept is designed to accomplish this by “cutting” the window and allowing the interior gas pressure to push the window material out of the beam path just before the heating laser arrives. In this work, we present the proof-of-principle experiments to evaluate a laser-cutting approach to Lasergate and explore the subsequent window and gas dynamics. Further, an experimental comparison of gas preheat with and without Lasergate gives clear indications of an energy deposition advantage using the Lasergate concept, as well as other observed and hypothesized benefits. While Lasergate was conceived with MagLIF in mind, the method is applicable to any laser or diagnostic application requiring direct line of sight to the interior of gas cell targets.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2567716

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1829158
OSTI ID: 1834144

Report Number(s):: SAND--2021-14221J; 112703

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 28; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of PhysicsCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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