High-Areal-Density Fuel Assembly in Direct-Drive Cryogenic Implosions

Journal Article · Tue May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.185006· OSTI ID:928741

The first observation of ignition-relevant areal-density deuterium from implosions of capsules with cryogenic fuel layers at ignition-relevant adiabats is reported. The experiments were performed on the 60-beam, 30-kJUV OMEGA Laser System [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)]. Neutron-averaged areal densities of 202+-7 mg/cm^2 and 182+-7 mg/cm^2 (corresponding to estimated peak fuel densities in excess of 100 g/cm^3) were inferred using an 18-kJ direct-drive pulse designed to put the converging fuel on an adiabat of 2.5. These areal densities are in good agreement with the predictions of hydrodynamic simulations indicating that the fuel adiabat can be accurately controlled under ignition-relevant conditions.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC52-08NA28302
• OSTI ID: 928741
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/28302-827; 2007-180; 1799
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 100, Issue 18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English