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Solodov AA, Rosenberg MJ, Stoeckl M, Christopherson AR, Betti R, Radha PB, Stoeckl C, Hohenberger M, Bachmann B, Epstein R, Follett RK, Seka W, Myatt JF, Michel P, Regan SP, Palastro JP, Froula DH, Campbell EM, Goncharov VN. Hot-electron preheat and mitigation in polar-direct-drive experiments at the National Ignition Facility. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:055204. [PMID: 36559374 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.055204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Target preheat by superthermal electrons from laser-plasma instabilities is a major obstacle to achieving thermonuclear ignition via direct-drive inertial confinement fusion at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Polar-direct-drive surrogate plastic implosion experiments were performed on the NIF to quantify preheat levels at an ignition-relevant scale and develop mitigation strategies. The experiments were used to infer the hot-electron temperature, energy fraction, and divergence, and to directly measure the spatial hot-electron energy deposition profile inside the imploding shell. Silicon layers buried in the ablator are shown to mitigate the growth of laser-plasma instabilities and reduce preheat, providing a promising path forward for ignition designs at an on-target intensity of about 10^{15}W/cm^{2}.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Solodov
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - M J Rosenberg
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - M Stoeckl
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - A R Christopherson
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - R Betti
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - P B Radha
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - C Stoeckl
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - M Hohenberger
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - B Bachmann
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - R Epstein
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - R K Follett
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - W Seka
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - J F Myatt
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - P Michel
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - S P Regan
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - J P Palastro
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - D H Froula
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - E M Campbell
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - V N Goncharov
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
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2
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Cao SH, Patel D, Lees A, Stoeckl C, Rosenberg MJ, Gopalaswamy V, Wen H, Huang H, Shvydky A, Betti R, Ren C. Predicting hot electron generation in inertial confinement fusion with particle-in-cell simulations. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:055214. [PMID: 36559357 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.055214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A series of two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations with speckled laser drivers was carried out to study hot electron generation in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion on OMEGA. Scaling laws were obtained for hot electron fraction and temperature as functions of laser/plasma conditions in the quarter-critical region. Using these scalings and conditions from hydro simulations, the temporal history of hot electron generation can be predicted. The scalings can be further improved to predict hard x-rays for a collection of OMEGA warm target implosions within experimental error bars. These scalings can be readily implemented into inertial confinement fusion design codes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S H Cao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.,Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - D Patel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.,Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - A Lees
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - C Stoeckl
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - M J Rosenberg
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - V Gopalaswamy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.,Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - H Wen
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - H Huang
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - A Shvydky
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - R Betti
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.,Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - C Ren
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.,Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
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3
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Campbell EM, Sangster TC, Goncharov VN, Zuegel JD, Morse SFB, Sorce C, Collins GW, Wei MS, Betti R, Regan SP, Froula DH, Dorrer C, Harding DR, Gopalaswamy V, Knauer JP, Shah R, Mannion OM, Marozas JA, Radha PB, Rosenberg MJ, Collins TJB, Christopherson AR, Solodov AA, Cao D, Palastro JP, Follett RK, Farrell M. Direct-drive laser fusion: status, plans and future. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2021; 379:20200011. [PMID: 33280561 PMCID: PMC7741011 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Laser-direct drive (LDD), along with laser indirect (X-ray) drive (LID) and magnetic drive with pulsed power, is one of the three viable inertial confinement fusion approaches to achieving fusion ignition and gain in the laboratory. The LDD programme is primarily being executed at both the Omega Laser Facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics and at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. LDD research at Omega includes cryogenic implosions, fundamental physics including material properties, hydrodynamics and laser-plasma interaction physics. LDD research on the NIF is focused on energy coupling and laser-plasma interactions physics at ignition-scale plasmas. Limited implosions on the NIF in the 'polar-drive' configuration, where the irradiation geometry is configured for LID, are also a feature of LDD research. The ability to conduct research over a large range of energy, power and scale size using both Omega and the NIF is a major positive aspect of LDD research that reduces the risk in scaling from OMEGA to megajoule-class lasers. The paper will summarize the present status of LDD research and plans for the future with the goal of ultimately achieving a burning plasma in the laboratory. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. M. Campbell
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - T. C. Sangster
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - V. N. Goncharov
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - J. D. Zuegel
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - S. F. B. Morse
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - C. Sorce
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - G. W. Collins
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - M. S. Wei
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - R. Betti
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - S. P. Regan
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - D. H. Froula
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - C. Dorrer
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - D. R. Harding
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - V. Gopalaswamy
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - J. P. Knauer
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - R. Shah
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - O. M. Mannion
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - J. A. Marozas
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - P. B. Radha
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - M. J. Rosenberg
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - T. J. B. Collins
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - A. R. Christopherson
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - A. A. Solodov
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - D. Cao
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - J. P. Palastro
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - R. K. Follett
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14623-1299, USA
| | - M. Farrell
- General Atomics, 3550 General Atomics Court, San Diego, CA, 92121-1122, USA
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