Progress in advancing the Revolver triple-shell direct-drive ignition concept

ORAL

Abstract

Recent progress in validating the concept of multi-shell direct-drive ignition has been made. Results of experiments on Omega are consistent with the Revolver ignition requirements of high (\textgreater 90{\%}) coupling of direct-drive laser energy to large Be capsules, the high hydro-efficiency (\textasciitilde 10{\%}) of direct-drive laser energy to payload kinetic energy for small laser beam to capsule ratios (\textasciitilde 1/3), and as-predicted implosion kinetic energy transfer efficiency between concentric colliding shells. The results of recent Omega and NIF experiments will be discussed in relation to the current Revolver triple shell ignition design. Ignition design features including split-quad laser pointing, inner capsule cushion layers to smooth high-mode perturbations and novel fabrication concepts. The goals of current LANL/LLE collaborative experimental efforts include the demonstration of smoothing techniques for both target and laser drive imperfections.

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Authors

  • Mark J Schmitt

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Kim Molvig

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Brett S Schiener

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Carl Wilde

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Natalia Vinyard

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • D.W. Schmidt

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • S.C. Hsu

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • T.A. Gianakon

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • M.J. Rosenberg

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

  • F.J. Marshall

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

  • Patrick McKenty

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

  • Danae Polsin

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

  • Steve Craxton

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

  • H. Huang

    General Atomics

  • J.G. Mance

    MSTS