A Testable Ignition Path on the National Ignition Facility Using Double-Shell Targets

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Stockpile Stewardship Quarterly

OSTI ID:1461751

Amendt, Peter ^[1]; Hamza, Alex ^[1]; Milovich, Jose ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

The pursuit of demonstrating thermonuclear ignition and energy gain with single-shell targets on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is ongoing since 2009. These targets rely on the formation of a high-temperature (~12 keV) “spark” in the deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel near capsule center that triggers an outwardly propagating self-sustaining burn or deflagration wave to the surrounding higher density fuel for realizing appreciable energy gain. This mode of thermonuclear burn is known as ‘hot spot’ ignition. Recent experiments with ‘high foot’ laser drive histories have demonstrated (~2x) net energy gain from the hot spot, but with no appreciable burn propagation into the dense fuel.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; LLNL Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1461751
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-674876; 796918
• Journal Information: Stockpile Stewardship Quarterly, Vol. 5, Issue 3; ISSN 9999-0016
• Publisher: USDOE NNSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION