Energy coupling in lined hohlraums (HLP1, HLP2, and HLP7)
- and others
Indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) uses high-Z cavities, or hohlraums, to confine x rays for compressing and igniting deuterium-tritium fuel contained in spherical capsules. For laser-driven ICF, the intense laser beams enter the hohlraum through small laser entrance holes (LEHs), heating the high-Z hohlraum walls. The laser-produced radiation heats the unirradiated high-Z walls producing a nearly isotropic radiation environment for spherically compressing the lCF capsule. The radiation flux on the capsule is not completely isotropic, however, because the laser-irradiated area is generally brighter than the surrounding x-ray heated walls and the LEHs do not radiate. Furthermore, the angular distribution of flux on the capsule is time dependent because the unilluminated walls become hotter and more emissive as a function of time, and plasma dynamics cause the laser-irradiated area to move. Symmetric implosions are obtained by dynamically balancing the effects of the LEHs, wall heating, and laser-spot motion.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 376963
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-LR--105820-95; ON: DE96013181
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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