Monoenergetic-Proton-Radiography Measurements of Implosion Dynamics in Direct-Drive Inertial-Confinement Fusion

Journal Article · Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.225001· OSTI ID:21132483

Li, C K; Seguin, F H; Rygg, J R; Frenje, J A; Manuel, M; Petrasso, R D; Betti, R; Delettrez, J; Knauer, J P; Marshall, F; Meyerhofer, D D; Shvarts, D; Smalyuk, V A; Stoeckl, C; Landen, O L; Town, R P. J.; Back, C A; Kilkenny, J D ^[1]

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1. Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

Time-gated, monoenergetic radiography with 15-MeV protons provides unique measurements of implosion dynamics in direct-drive inertial-confinement fusion. Images obtained during acceleration, coasting, deceleration, and stagnation display a comprehensive picture of spherical implosions. Critical information inferred from such images, hitherto unavailable, characterizes the spatial structure and temporal evolution of self-generated fields and plasma areal density. Results include the first observation of a radial electric field inside the imploding capsule. It is initially directed inward (at {approx}10{sup 9} V/m), eventually reverses direction ({approx}10{sup 8} V/m), and is the probable consequence of the evolution of the electron pressure gradient.

• OSTI ID: 21132483
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 100, Issue 22; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.225001; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
EVOLUTION
IMPLOSIONS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
MEV RANGE 10-100
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
PROTON RADIOGRAPHY
PROTONS
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION