Role of the laboratory for laser energetics in the National Ignition Facility Project

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Fusion Technology

OSTI ID:447421

Soures, J M; Loucks, S J; McCrory, R L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); and others

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a 192-beam, 1.8-MJ (ultraviolet) laser facility that is currently planned to start operating in 2002. The NIF mission is to provide data critical to this Nation`s science-based stockpile stewardship (SBSS) program and to advance the understanding of inertial confinement fusion and assess its potential as an energy source. The NIF project involves a collaboration among the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), and the University of Rochester`s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (UR/LLE). In this paper, the role of the University of Rochester in the research, development, and planning required to assure the success of the NIF will be presented. The principal roles of the UR/LLE in the NIF are (1) validation of the direct-drive approach to NIF using the OMEGA 60-beam, 40-kJ UV laser facility; (2) support of indirect-drive physics experiments using OMEGA in collaboration with LLNL and LANL; (3) development of plasma diagnostics for NIF; (4) development of beam-smoothing techniques; and (5) development of thin-film coatings for NIF and cryogenic-fuel-layer targets for eventual application to NIF. 3 refs., 6 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: FC03-92SF19460
• OSTI ID: 447421
• Report Number(s): CONF-9606116--
• Journal Information: Fusion Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 30; ISSN 0748-1896; ISSN FUSTE8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CRYOGENICS
DIRECT DRIVE LASER IMPLOSION
ICF DEVICES
OMEGA FACILITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
TEST FACILITIES
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION