EPJ Web of Conferences (Nov 2013)

Shock timing on the National Ignition Facility: First experiments

  • Celliers P.M.,
  • Robey H.F.,
  • Boehly T.R.,
  • Alger E.,
  • Azevedo S.,
  • Berzins L.V.,
  • Bhandarkar S.D.,
  • Bowers M.W.,
  • Brereton S.J.,
  • Callahan D.,
  • Castro C.,
  • Chandrasekaran H.,
  • Choate C.,
  • Clark D.S.,
  • Coffee K.R.,
  • Datte P.S.,
  • Dewald E.L.,
  • DiNicola P.,
  • Dixit S.,
  • Döppner T.,
  • Dzenitis E.,
  • Edwards M.J.,
  • Eggert J.H.,
  • Fair J.,
  • Farley D.R.,
  • Frieders G.,
  • Gibson C.R.,
  • Giraldez E.,
  • Haan S.,
  • Haid B.,
  • Hamza A.V.,
  • Haynam C.,
  • Hicks D.G.,
  • Holunga D.M.,
  • Horner J.B.,
  • Jancaitis K.,
  • Jones O.S.,
  • Kalantar D.,
  • Kline J.L.,
  • Krauter K.G.,
  • Kroll J.J.,
  • LaFortune K.N.,
  • Pape S. Le,
  • Malsbury T.,
  • Mapoles E.R.,
  • Meezan N.B.,
  • Milovich J.L.,
  • Moody J.D.,
  • Moreno K.,
  • Munro D.H.,
  • Nikroo A.,
  • Olson R.E.,
  • Parham T.,
  • Pollaine S.,
  • Radousky H.B.,
  • Ross G.F.,
  • Sater J.,
  • Schneider M.B.,
  • Shaw M.,
  • Smith R.F.,
  • Sterne P.A.,
  • Thomas C.A.,
  • Throop A.,
  • Town R.P.J.,
  • Trummer D.,
  • Wonterghem B.M. Van,
  • Walters C.F.,
  • Widmann K.,
  • Widmayer C.,
  • Young B.K.,
  • Atherton L.J.,
  • Collins G.W.,
  • Landen O.L.,
  • Lindl J.D.,
  • MacGowan B.J.,
  • Meyerhofer D.D.,
  • Moses E.I.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20135902004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 59
p. 02004

Abstract

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An experimental campaign to tune the initial shock compression sequence of capsule implosions on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) was initiated in late 2010. The experiments use a NIF ignition-scale hohlraum and capsule that employs a re-entrant cone to provide optical access to the shocks as they propagate in the liquid deuterium-filled capsule interior. The strength and timing of the shock sequence is diagnosed with velocity interferometry that provides target performance data used to set the pulse shape for ignition capsule implosions that follow. From the start, these measurements yielded significant new information on target performance, leading to improvements in the target design. We describe the results and interpretation of the initial tuning experiments.