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Title: D2 and D-T Liquid-Layer Target Shots at the National Ignition Facility

Abstract

Experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) using targets containing a deuterium-tritium (D-T) fuel layer have, until recently, required that a high-quality layer of solid D-T (herein referred to as an ice layer) be formed in the capsule. The development of a process to line the inner surface of a target capsule with a foam layer of a thickness that is typical of ice layers has resulted in the ability to field targets with liquid layers wetting the foam. Successful fielding of liquid-layer targets on NIF required not only a foam-lined capsule but also changes to the capsule filling process and the manner with which the inventory is maintained in the capsule. Additionally, changes to target heater power and the temperature drops across target components were required in order to achieve the desired range of shot temperatures. Finally, these changes and the target’s performance during four target shots on NIF are discussed.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1438648
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-747754
Journal ID: ISSN 1536-1055; TRN: US1900475
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344; AC52-06NA27279; AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Fusion Science and Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 73; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 1536-1055
Publisher:
American Nuclear Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; National Ignition Facility; target design; cryogenic D2/D-T liquid layer

Citation Formats

Walters, Curtis, Alger, Ethan, Bhandarkar, Suhas, Boehm, Kurt, Braun, Tom, Espinosaloza, Francisco, Haid, Benjamin, Heredia, Ricardo, Kline, John, Kozioziemski, Bernard, Kroll, Jeremy, Malone, Daniel, Nikroo, Abbas, Opsahl, Patrick, Sater, James, and Zylstra, Alex. D2 and D-T Liquid-Layer Target Shots at the National Ignition Facility. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1080/15361055.2017.1397488.
Walters, Curtis, Alger, Ethan, Bhandarkar, Suhas, Boehm, Kurt, Braun, Tom, Espinosaloza, Francisco, Haid, Benjamin, Heredia, Ricardo, Kline, John, Kozioziemski, Bernard, Kroll, Jeremy, Malone, Daniel, Nikroo, Abbas, Opsahl, Patrick, Sater, James, & Zylstra, Alex. D2 and D-T Liquid-Layer Target Shots at the National Ignition Facility. United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1397488
Walters, Curtis, Alger, Ethan, Bhandarkar, Suhas, Boehm, Kurt, Braun, Tom, Espinosaloza, Francisco, Haid, Benjamin, Heredia, Ricardo, Kline, John, Kozioziemski, Bernard, Kroll, Jeremy, Malone, Daniel, Nikroo, Abbas, Opsahl, Patrick, Sater, James, and Zylstra, Alex. 2018. "D2 and D-T Liquid-Layer Target Shots at the National Ignition Facility". United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1397488. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1438648.
@article{osti_1438648,
title = {D2 and D-T Liquid-Layer Target Shots at the National Ignition Facility},
author = {Walters, Curtis and Alger, Ethan and Bhandarkar, Suhas and Boehm, Kurt and Braun, Tom and Espinosaloza, Francisco and Haid, Benjamin and Heredia, Ricardo and Kline, John and Kozioziemski, Bernard and Kroll, Jeremy and Malone, Daniel and Nikroo, Abbas and Opsahl, Patrick and Sater, James and Zylstra, Alex},
abstractNote = {Experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) using targets containing a deuterium-tritium (D-T) fuel layer have, until recently, required that a high-quality layer of solid D-T (herein referred to as an ice layer) be formed in the capsule. The development of a process to line the inner surface of a target capsule with a foam layer of a thickness that is typical of ice layers has resulted in the ability to field targets with liquid layers wetting the foam. Successful fielding of liquid-layer targets on NIF required not only a foam-lined capsule but also changes to the capsule filling process and the manner with which the inventory is maintained in the capsule. Additionally, changes to target heater power and the temperature drops across target components were required in order to achieve the desired range of shot temperatures. Finally, these changes and the target’s performance during four target shots on NIF are discussed.},
doi = {10.1080/15361055.2017.1397488},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1438648}, journal = {Fusion Science and Technology},
issn = {1536-1055},
number = 3,
volume = 73,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Fri Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

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Cited by: 5 works
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Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1 Fig. 1: LEH view X-ray image of a capsule with an inner radius of 844.8mμm and a 44mμm foam layer lining the inner surface of the capsule. The red-bordered insert is an overlay of part of an x-ray image from the capsule after it has been filled with liquid D2more » and shows the enhanced contrast at the edge of the foam that is observed when it is filled with a liquid hydrogen isotope mix.« less

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Works referenced in this record:

First implosion experiments with cryogenic thermonuclear fuel on the National Ignition Facility
journal, March 2012


Cryogenic Target System for Hydrogen Layering
journal, February 2016


A new approach to foam-lined indirect-drive NIF ignition targets
journal, April 2012


Radioactively induced sublimation in solid tritium
journal, March 1988


Effects of self-heating and phase change on the thermal profile of hydrogen isotopes in confined geometries
journal, March 2014


First Liquid Layer Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions at the National Ignition Facility
journal, December 2016


Deuterium-Tritium Fuel Layer Formation for the National Ignition Facility
journal, January 2011


Works referencing / citing this record:

Variable convergence liquid layer implosions on the National Ignition Facility
journal, May 2018


Robustness to hydrodynamic instabilities in indirectly driven layered capsule implosions
journal, January 2019