Synthetic Radiograph Data for Double Shell Implosions

Double shell implosions seek to achieve volumetric burn as an alternative to hot-spot ignition inertial confinement fusion. These experiments typically involve targets that include a volume of liquid DT surrounded by W, Be, foam, and Al shells, which are shot in an indirect drive configuration at the National Ignition Facility. Shell velocities and energy transferred between shells are vital diagnostic quantities for these implosions, as efficient transfer of kinetic energy/momentum between shells minimizes the time for growth of hydrodynamic instabilities, reducing their eventual impact on burn performance.

X-ray radiography is used to diagnose shell velocities and energy transfer between shells as well as to determine implosion symmetry. This work details the creation of synthetic radiography data for the purpose of designing double shell experiments with choices of backlighter and other imaging parameters that are optimal for diagnosing shell velocity/energy transfer between shells. The focus of this work is on extending the streaked radiography platform – which produces radiographs with well-resolved spatial and temporal axes – to multi-shell implosions. The inclusion of high-resolution temporal information is necessary to measure shell velocities with increased precision.