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First Liquid Layer Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions at the National Ignition Facility

R. E. Olson et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 245001 – Published 7 December 2016
Physics logo See Synopsis: Starting Fluid for Laser Fusion

Abstract

The first cryogenic deuterium and deuterium-tritium liquid layer implosions at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) demonstrate D2 and DT layer inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions that can access a low-to-moderate hot-spot convergence ratio (12<CR<25). Previous ICF experiments at the NIF utilized high convergence (CR>30) DT ice layer implosions. Although high CR is desirable in an idealized 1D sense, it amplifies the deleterious effects of asymmetries. To date, these asymmetries prevented the achievement of ignition at the NIF and are the major cause of simulation-experiment disagreement. In the initial liquid layer experiments, high neutron yields were achieved with CRs of 12–17, and the hot-spot formation is well understood, demonstrated by a good agreement between the experimental data and the radiation hydrodynamic simulations. These initial experiments open a new NIF experimental capability that provides an opportunity to explore the relationship between hot-spot convergence ratio and the robustness of hot-spot formation during ICF implosions.

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  • Received 22 August 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.245001

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Plasma Physics

Synopsis

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Starting Fluid for Laser Fusion

Published 7 December 2016

A laser-based fusion experiment demonstrates that liquid fuel capsules could rectify problems encountered with ice-based fuel capsules.

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Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 24 — 9 December 2016

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