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Tertiary fusion neutron diagnostic for density-radius product and stability of inertial confinement fusion

Journal Article · · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1139842· OSTI ID:5341530
The fluence of high-energy (>14 MeV) ''secondary'' neutrons, produced in D--T reactions involving suprathermal fuel ions created by elastic scattering with 14-MeV ''primary'' neutrons, yields information about the fuel density-radius product (rhoR) and the hydrodynamic stability of inertial-confinement fusion (ICF) targets. The suprathermal ions, produced in proportion to the fuel rhoR, create secondary neutrons with energies less than or equal to30 MeV when fusing with a thermal ion. The ratio of secondary to primary neutrons determines the mean fuel rhoR. Since secondary neutrons, which are mainly formed near the fuel tamper interface with energies >24 MeV, are radially directed, the detection of their angular distribution provides a unique measurement of the deviation from spherical geometry of the fuel rhoR. Valid for fuel rhoR>0.1 g/cm/sup 2/ and D--T yield above 10/sup 14/, this diagnostic would be valuable in upcoming ICF experiments.
Research Organization:
Fusion Studies Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Program, University of Illinois, 214 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, 103 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801
OSTI ID:
5341530
Journal Information:
Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States), Journal Name: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States) Vol. 59:4; ISSN RSINA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English