Observation of Kinetic Structures in Simulations of NIF Cryo Implosions

Over the past few decades, most simulations of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) implosions have utilized fluid models due to computational constraints and limitations. However, advances in computational technology and algorithms have begun to enable the use of more complex models. In this work, we present a common modeling framework between the LANL Vlasov-Fokker Planck code iFP and LANL's rad-hydro code xRAGE, and compare results of the two codes. It is shown that during a typical cryo implosion, high Knudsen numbers are expected along the shock front, and kinetic modeling confirms that non-Maxwellian, bimodal features arise in the ion-distribution function. A discussion of the possible implications of this effect is presented, the most immediate of which is increased mix of ice into the hot spot. Additionally, preliminary results from recent experiments at OMEGA are discussed, which extend separated reactant experiments to a more shock driven regime in an attempt to quantify diffusive and kinetic effects.