Nuclear and x-ray burn widths in recent high-yield implosions on the National Ignition Facility

ORAL

Abstract

Cryogenic implosions on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) are primarily used to produce high neutron yields in the effort to achieve the goal of ignition. Two campaigns using high-density carbon ablator designs are leading this effort using low- and high-adiabat implosions that have achieved yields of more than 50 kJ, the highest to date on NIF. The time-history of the DT neutrons and x-rays emitted during the implosion with ~10-20 ps temporal resolution in the form of MeV photons (gammas) released from fusion events and 10s of keV x-ray photons from the hot dense core. These burn durations are typically longer than predicted by simulations and could be a signature of degradation mechanisms like preheat, fuel-ablator mix, or 3D effects. We also observe a second x-ray peak post-stagnation at lower photon energies, which we attribute to the outgoing shock propagating through the ablator. We discuss how this signature can provide insight into the conditions of the shell at late time.

Presenters

  • Gerald J Williams

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Authors

  • Gerald J Williams

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Tammy Yee Wing Ma

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Pravesh K Patel

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Shahab Khan

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Michael K Kruse

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • H. W. Herrmann

    Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos Natl Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Kevin Meaney

    Los Alamos Natl Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • H. Geppert-Kleinrath

    Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos Natl Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Y. H. Kim

    Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Daniel T Casey

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • C. A Thomas

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Kevin L Baker

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Brian K. Spears

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Matthias Hohenberger

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • C. R. Weber

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Ryan Nora

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Sebastien Le Pape

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Laura F. Berzak Hopkins

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Laurent Divol

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Arthur E. Pak

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Eduard L. Dewald

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Laura Robin Benedetti

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Daniel S. Clark

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory