Hot Spot and Fuel Imaging Using Nuclear Diagnostics on Direct-Drive Cryogenic Implosions on OMEGA

ORAL

Abstract

Achieving a symmetric implosion and fuel assembly is critical to maximizing hot-spot pressure and nuclear yield in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. Nuclear diagnostics provide a direct measurement of the hot-spot shape relevant to nuclear performance and an indirect measurement of the fuel morphology via neutron elastic scattering of fuel ions. We present recent advances in neutron and charged-particle imaging of directly driven cryogenic ICF implosions at the Omega Laser Facility. A neutron imaging system with penumbral and annular apertures was used to record neutron images of the hot spot. Charged-particle penumbral and pinhole imaging provides a complementary measurement of the hot spot via forward-scattered (high-energy) deuterons, as well as a new approach to measure the symmetry of the assembled fuel via sidescattered (low-energy) deuterons. Experimental results and plans for further implementation of these diagnostics will be presented. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0003856.

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Authors

  • Hans Rinderknecht

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, University of Rochester, LLE

  • C.J. Forrest

    University of Rochester - LLE, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, LLE, University of Rochester

  • R. C. Shah

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics, LLE

  • Wolfgang Theobald

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory of Laser Energetics

  • Sean Regan

    LLE, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester - LLE, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics

  • Olivier Landoas

    CEA

  • Tony Caillaud

    CEA

  • Petr L. Volegov

    LANL, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Natl Lab

  • Carl Wilde

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Verena Geppert-Kleinrath

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Chris Danly

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Rusberry Simpson

    MIT, MIT PSFC, Plasma Science and Fusion Center Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • J.A. Frenje

    MIT, MIT PSFC, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, PSFC, MIT