Impact of asymmetries on fuel performance in inertial confinement fusion
File(s)GatuJohnsonPhysRevE.98.051201.pdf (469.59 KB)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Low-mode asymmetries prevent effective compression, confinement, and heating of the fuel in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions, and their control is essential to achieving ignition. Ion temperatures (Tion) in ICF experiments are inferred from the broadening of primary neutron spectra. Directional motion (flow) of the fuel at burn also impacts broadening and will lead to artificially inflated "Tion" values. Flow due to low-mode asymmetries is expected to give rise to line-of-sight variations in measured Tion. We report on intentionally asymmetrically driven experiments at the OMEGA laser facility designed to test the ability to accurately predict and measure line-of-sight differences in apparent Tion due to low-mode asymmetry-seeded flows. Contrasted to chimera and xrage simulations, the measurements demonstrate how all asymmetry seeds have to be considered to fully capture the flow field in an implosion. In particular, flow induced by the stalk that holds the target is found to interfere with the seeded asymmetry. A substantial stalk-seeded asymmetry in the areal density of the implosion is also observed.
Date Issued
2018-11-05
Date Acceptance
2018-07-20
Citation
Physical Review E, 2018, 98 (5)
ISSN
2470-0045
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review E
Volume
98
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© 2018 American Physical Society.
Sponsor
AWE Plc
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
300115146/1
EP/M01102X/1
EP/P010288/1
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
051201
Date Publish Online
2018-11-05