Radiochemical determination of Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule compression at the National Ignition Facility

Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4883186· OSTI ID:22308809

Moody, K. J.; Gharibyan, N.; Grant, P. M.; Gostic, J. M.; Torretto, P. C.; Wooddy, P. T.; Bandong, B. B.; Cerjan, C. J.; Hagmann, C. A.; Caggiano, J. A.; Yeamans, C. B.; Bernstein, L. A.; Schneider, D. H. G.; Henry, E. A.; Fortner, R. J. ^[1]; Despotopulos, J. D. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)

We describe a radiochemical measurement of the ratio of isotope concentrations produced in a gold hohlraum surrounding an Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). We relate the ratio of the concentrations of (n,γ) and (n,2n) products in the gold hohlraum matrix to the down-scatter of neutrons in the compressed fuel and, consequently, to the fuel's areal density. The observed ratio of the concentrations of {sup 198m+g}Au and {sup 196g}Au is a performance signature of ablator areal density and the fuel assembly confinement time. We identify the measurement of nuclear cross sections of astrophysical importance as a potential application of the neutrons generated at the NIF.

• OSTI ID: 22308809
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 85; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
CONFINEMENT TIME
CROSS SECTIONS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
GOLD
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
US NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY