Preparing for Ignition Experiments on the National Ignition Facility
The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a 192-beam Nd-glass laser facility presently under construction at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for performing ignition experiments for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and experiments studying high energy density (HED) science. NIF will produce 1.8 MJ, 500 TW of ultraviolet light ({lambda} = 351 nm) making it the world's largest and most powerful laser system. NIF will be the world's preeminent facility for the study of matter at extreme temperatures and densities for producing and developing ICF. The ignition studies will be an essential step in developing inertial fusion energy (IFE). the NIF Project is over 93% complete and scheduled for completion in 2009. Experiments using one beam have demonstrated that NIF can meet all of its performance goals. A detailed plan called the National Ignition Campaign (NIC) has been developed to begin ignition experiments in 2010. The plan includes the target physics and the equipment such as diagnostics, cryogenic target manipulator and user optics required for the ignition experiment. Target designs have been developed that calculate to ignite at energy as low as 1 MJ. Plans are under way to make NIF a national user facility for experiments on HED physics and nuclear science, including experiments relevant to the development of IFE.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 924969
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-CONF-234135; TRN: US0803012
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 83; Journal Issue: 7-9; Conference: Presented at: 8th International Symposium on Fusion Nuclear Technology, Heidelberg, Germany, Sep 30 - Oct 05, 2007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Development of the indirect‐drive approach to inertial confinement fusion and the target physics basis for ignition and gain
|
journal | November 1995 |
Ignition and high gain with ultrapowerful lasers
|
journal | May 1994 |
Fast heating of ultrahigh-density plasma as a step towards laser fusion ignition
|
journal | August 2001 |
Fast heating scalable to laser fusion ignition
|
journal | August 2002 |
Experimental astrophysics with high power lasers and pinches
|
journal | August 2006 |
| The role of the NIF in the development of inertial fusion energy | report | March 1995 |
Similar Records
The National Ignition Facility (NIF) and the National Ignition Campaign (NIC)
Progress on the National Ignition Facility