Nuclear Fusion (Jan 2022)

Optimization of irradiation configuration using spherical t-designs for laser-direct-drive inertial confinement fusion

  • A. Shvydky,
  • W. Trickey,
  • A.V. Maximov,
  • I.V. Igumenshchev,
  • P.W. McKenty,
  • V.N. Goncharov

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/aca685
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 63, no. 1
p. 014004

Abstract

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A new class of beam configurations is proposed for symmetric-direct-drive inertial confinement fusion laser systems. These configurations are based on spherical t -designs that are studied in spherical design theory in mathematics (Delsarte et al 1977 Geom. Dedicata 6 363). Employing t -design configurations offers elimination of spherical-harmonic intensity modulations for modes $\ell \leqslant t$ . Additionally, these configurations provide fast decay of intensity nonuniformities with increasing number of beams and symmetric intensity patterns on the surface of the target. Methods developed in spherical design theory offer a convenient, systematic way of obtaining beam configurations for an arbitrary number of beams.

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