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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Current status of calculations and measurements of ion stopping power in ICF plasmas

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6256366

More-precise stopping-power models for use in ICF target design need to be developed. The ion-driven ICF program is now moving into a phase where ad hoc scaling of certain key physics parameters in the stopping-power models is no longer sufficient. Our goal is to predict ion ranges in ICF targets to within about 10%. A verified stopping-power model is also essential in diagnosing target-irradiation intensities; such data can only be inferred by target response. Presently, our area of primary concern involves calculating the stopping power of the bound electrons of partially ionized atoms. One bound-electron stopping-power model that we are investigating uses the free-electron-gas model along with Hartree-Fock-Slater atomic charge-density profiles to calculate I(Z,q,E), a generalized average ionization potential for the target electrons. This method is being systematically studied to look for deficiencies in the underlying physics model, especially at low projectile velocities. Another procedure uses the Generalized Oscillator Strength model to calculate the bound-electron stopping. Experimental measurements of enhanced stopping power in ICF plasmas at the .3 TW/cm/sup 2/ level have been reported by the Naval Research Laboratories. Further experiments at Sandia are aimed at extending this data base both to higher ionization states and to higher-Z targets using a 1.2 TW/cm/sup 2/ proton beam on the PROTO-I accelerator.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6256366
Report Number(s):
SAND-83-0663C; CONF-830354-1; ON: DE83011448
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English