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Motivation and expectations for 2.2 MJ 440 TW implosions at the NIF

ORAL

Abstract

The NIF implosion experiment N221204 produced more than 3 MJ of fusion yield and surpassed unity target gain for the first time. Key contributors to its improved performance were using higher laser energy and a thicker capsule ablator. 1D and 2D HYDRA modeling show still further performance improvement by moving to +0.15 MJ laser energy and +10 um thicker HDC capsule, relative to N221204. This improvement is evidenced by increased EP2, yield, and increased robustness to a given level of degradation. The degradations investigated include hydrodynamic instabilities, low-mode shape asymmetry, and high-Z impurity mixing into the fusing plasma. Facility upgrades have been performed to enhance laser delivery to 2.2 MJ 440 TW, with plans for additional increases in energy and power in following years. An experimental campaign has been developed for FY24 which exploits this new capability and explores the parameter space of improved, igniting plasmas. First demonstration at 2.2 MJ 440 TW is scheduled for September 2023.

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Presenters

  • David Schlossberg

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Authors

  • David Schlossberg

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Andrea Kritcher

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Alex Zylstra

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Arthur E Pak

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Benjamin Bachmann

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Daniel T Casey

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Alison Christopherson

    Lawrence Livermore National Lab, LLNL, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Eduard L Dewald

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jean-Michel Di Nicola

    Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Laurent Divol

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, LLNL, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Tilo Doeppner

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Matthias Hohenberger

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Kelli D Humbird

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Omar Hurricane

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Otto L Landen

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Lab

  • Joseph E Ralph

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Michael Stadermann

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL

  • Chris R Weber

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Christopher V Young

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory