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Experiments with polymer coated microspheres irradiated by the Shiva laser system

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5821792

Polymer coated spherical targets have been irradiated by the Shiva laser system in an effort to compress the contained 10 mg/cc DT fuel to super liquid densities. Glass microspheres of 140 ..mu..m ID and 5 ..mu..m wall thickness with polymer coatings 15 ..mu..m to 100 ..mu..m thick have been irradiated with laser pulses of 4 kilojoules in 200 psec FWHM. Target performance was diagnosed with neutron yield measurements, radiochemistry, Argon line imaging, and x-ray imaging techniques. Ball in plate targets achieved greater implosion symmetry than free-standing ball targets. With yields of 10/sup 7/ to 10/sup 8/ neutrons, targets reached DT fuel compressions of several times liquid density.

Research Organization:
California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5821792
Report Number(s):
UCRL-83057; CONF-791135-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English