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Title: Thermonuclear ignition and the onset of propagating burn in inertial fusion implosions

Journal Article · · Physical Review E
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Separating ignition of the central hot spot from propagating burn in the surrounding dense fuel is crucial to conclusively assess the achievement of ignition in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). We show that the transition from hot spot ignition to the onset of propagating burn occurs when the alpha heating within the hot spot has amplified the fusion yield by 15 to 25x with respect to the compression-only case without alpha energy deposition. This yield amplification corresponds to a value of the fractional alpha energy ƒα ≈ 1:4 (ƒα = 0.5 alpha energy/hot spot energy). The parameter fα can be inferred in ICF experiments by measuring the neutron yield, hot spot size, temperature, and burn width. This ignition threshold is measurable and applicable to all ICF implosions of DT-layered targets both direct and indirect drive. The results of this paper can be used to set the goals of the ICF effort with respect to the first demonstration of thermonuclear ignition.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003856
OSTI ID:
1498067
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1496497
Report Number(s):
2018-220, 1469; PLEEE8; 2018-220, 1469, 2428
Journal Information:
Physical Review E, Vol. 99, Issue 2; ISSN 2470-0045
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 19 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

On alpha-particle transport in inertial fusion journal June 2019