激光聚变内爆流体不稳定性基础问题研究进展

激光聚变有望一劳永逸地解决人类的能源问题,因而受到国际社会的普遍重视,一直是国际研究的前沿热点。目前实现激光惯性约束聚变所面临的最大科学障碍（属于内禀困难）是对内爆过程中高能量密度流体力学不稳定性引起的非线性流动的有效控制,对其研究涵盖高能量密度物理、等离子体物理、流体力学、计算科学、强冲击物理和高压原子物理等多个学科,同时还要具备大规模多物理多尺度多介质流动的数值模拟能力和高功率大型激光装置等研究条件。作为新兴研究课题,高能量密度非线性流动问题充满了各种新奇的现象亟待探索。此外,流体力学不稳定性及其引起的湍流混合,还是天体物理现象（如星系碰撞与合并、恒星演化、原始恒星的形成以及超新星爆炸）中的重要过程,涉及天体物理的一些核心研究内容。本文首先综述了高能量密度非线性流动研究的现状和进展,梳理了其中的挑战和机遇。然后介绍了传统中心点火激光聚变内爆过程发生的主要流体力学不稳定性,在大量分解和综合物理研究基础上,凝练出了目前制约美国国家点火装置（NIF）内爆性能的主要流体不稳定性问题。接下来,总结了国外激光聚变流体不稳定性实验物理的研究概况。最后,展示了内爆物理团队近些年在激光聚变内爆流体不稳定性基础性问题方面的主要研究进展。该团队一直从事激光聚变内爆非线性流动研究与控制,以及聚变靶物理研究与设计,注重理论探索和实验研究相结合,近年来在内爆重要流体力学不稳定性问题的解析理论、数值模拟和激光装置实验设计与数据分析等方面取得了一系列重要成果,有力地推动了该研究方向在国内的发展。     

激光惯性约束聚变研究中高时空诊断技术研究进展

对国内激光惯性约束聚变（ICF）领域高时空分辨技术的最新进展进行了比较全面的介绍。针对热斑诊断时间分辨优于10 ps、空间分辨优于10 μm、能区10～30 keV的需求,从光学、X射线、核诊断和计算成像几个角度,比较系统地介绍了最新的进展。光学领域主要介绍基于泵浦探测技术的全光扫描和全光分幅技术。全光扫描技术的时间分辨可以达到200 fs,全光分幅的时间分辨可以达到5 ps,空间分辨可以达到5 μm。该系统的主要部件为光学器件,在ICF未来的强电磁、强电离环境下有很好的应用前景。X射线系统主要介绍最近几年发展的高分辨KB显微镜,其采用STTS构型,可将空间分辨提高到3 μm,满足当前高分辨的需求。漂移管技术的时间分辨可以达到10 ps,作为一种正在发展的技术,对此进行了较为全面的分析。中子成像系统主要介绍了高空间分辨的记录系统以及对应的瞄准技术的进展,其空间分辨可以达到20～25 μm。计算成像作为一个全新的分支,最近引起了ICF领域的广泛关注。着重介绍了三维光场技术和在高时空分辨领域有很好应用前景的压缩感知超快成像（CUP）技术,对其可能在ICF领域中的应用提出了设想。     

基于现代加速器的惯性约束聚变物理研究现状及发展

能源与环境是人类社会与经济发展的基础。传统的化石能源与现代的核裂变能源往往造成严重的环境污染,其原料也终将枯竭、难以持续;受控热核聚变能以用之不竭的海水作为原料,环境友好,将是未来彻底解决能源与环境问题的主要希望所在。强激光或重离子束驱动的惯性约束核聚变是实现受控热核聚变的重要途径。当前,美国激光聚变装置已经实现聚变能增益;我国的“神光”系列激光聚变研究采取循序渐进的思路,也已进入攻坚阶段。与此同时,国内外大型重离子加速装置项目相继启动,相关的现代加速器技术飞速发展,以高功率重离子束为驱动源、以现代加速器为先进工具的惯性约束聚变物理研究,条件日益成熟,亟待大力发展和推动。文章主要介绍基于现代加速器的惯性约束聚变物理领域若干前沿课题的研究现状和新进展。     

我国激光惯性约束聚变实验与诊断技术早期研究历史

文章回顾了中国激光惯性约束聚变(ICF)领域实验与诊断技术的早期研究历史,介绍了ICF实验与诊断研究工作从学习调研、跟踪模仿到自主研制设备、综合实验等方面的艰苦历程。文章可以弥补中国ICF领域在实验与诊断方面科技史研究的空白。     

Picosecond‐resolved X‐ray absorption spectroscopy at low signal contrast using a hard X‐ray streak camera

A picosecond‐resolving hard‐X‐ray streak camera has been in operation for several years at Sector 7 of the Advanced Photon Source (APS). Several upgrades have been implemented over the past few years to optimize integration into the beamline, reduce the timing jitter, and improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio. These include the development of X‐ray optics for focusing the X‐rays into the sample and the entrance slit of the streak camera, and measures to minimize the amount of laser light needed to generate the deflection‐voltage ramp. For the latter, the photoconductive switch generating the deflection ramp was replaced with microwave power electronics. With these, the streak camera operates routinely at 88 MHz repetition rate, thus making it compatible with all of the APS fill patterns including use of all the X‐rays in the 324‐bunch mode. Sample data are shown to demonstrate the performance.     

Spectrometer for hard X‐ray free‐electron laser based on diffraction focusing

X‐ray free‐electron lasers (XFELs) generate sequences of ultra‐short spatially coherent pulses of X‐ray radiation. A diffraction focusing spectrometer (DFS), which is able to measure the whole energy spectrum of the radiation of a single XFEL pulse with an energy resolution of ΔE/E? 2 × 10^?6, is proposed. This is much better than for most modern X‐ray spectrometers. Such resolution allows one to resolve the fine spectral structure of the XFEL pulse. The effect of diffraction focusing occurs in a single‐crystal plate due to dynamical scattering, and is similar to focusing in a Pendry lens made from a metamaterial with a negative refraction index. Such a spectrometer is easier to operate than those based on bent crystals. It is shown that the DFS can be used in a wide energy range from 5 keV to 20 keV.     

ICF驱动器中光束谐波分离技术

在激光惯性约束聚变研究过程中,激光驱动器打靶系统的光束谐波分离技术是驱动器建造研究的重要内容之一。根据高功率固体激光驱动器的发展历程,介绍了几种目前世界上正在应用的光束谐波分离技术,并对这些光束谐波分离方法的优缺点进行了对比分析。结合我国激光驱动器谐波分离技术的发展现状提出了将来的发展方向。这对大型激光驱动器的建造具有一定的指导意义。     

Time‐resolved X‐ray PIV technique for diagnosing opaque biofluid flow with insufficient X‐ray fluxes

X‐ray imaging is used to visualize the biofluid flow phenomena in a nondestructive manner. A technique currently used for quantitative visualization is X‐ray particle image velocimetry (PIV). Although this technique provides a high spatial resolution (less than 10 µm), significant hemodynamic parameters are difficult to obtain under actual physiological conditions because of the limited temporal resolution of the technique, which in turn is due to the relatively long exposure time (～10 ms) involved in X‐ray imaging. This study combines an image intensifier with a high‐speed camera to reduce exposure time, thereby improving temporal resolution. The image intensifier amplifies light flux by emitting secondary electrons in the micro‐channel plate. The increased incident light flux greatly reduces the exposure time (below 200 µs). The proposed X‐ray PIV system was applied to high‐speed blood flows in a tube, and the velocity field information was successfully obtained. The time‐resolved X‐ray PIV system can be employed to investigate blood flows at beamlines with insufficient X‐ray fluxes under specific physiological conditions. This method facilitates understanding of the basic hemodynamic characteristics and pathological mechanism of cardiovascular diseases.     

Comparative study of multilayers used in monochromators for synchrotron‐based coherent hard X‐ray imaging

A systematic study is presented in which multilayers of different composition (W/Si, Mo/Si, Pd/B₄C), periodicity (from 2.5 to 5.5 nm) and number of layers have been characterized. In particular, the intrinsic quality (roughness and reflectivity) as well as the performance (homogeneity and coherence of the outgoing beam) as a monochromator for synchrotron radiation hard X‐ray micro‐imaging are investigated. The results indicate that the material composition is the dominating factor for the performance. By helping scientists and engineers specify the design parameters of multilayer monochromators, these results can contribute to a better exploitation of the advantages of multilayer monochromators over crystal‐based devices; i.e. larger spectral bandwidth and high photon flux density, which are particularly useful for synchrotron‐based micro‐radiography and ‐tomography.     

Status of the hard X‐ray microprobe beamline ID22 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The ESRF synchrotron beamline ID22, dedicated to hard X‐ray microanalysis and consisting of the combination of X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, diffraction and 2D/3D X‐ray imaging techniques, is one of the most versatile instruments in hard X‐ray microscopy science. This paper describes the present beamline characteristics, recent technical developments, as well as a few scientific examples from recent years of the beamline operation. The upgrade plans to adapt the beamline to the growing needs of the user community are briefly discussed.     

High‐resolution spectroscopy on an X‐ray absorption beamline

A bent‐crystal spectrometer based on the Rowland circle geometry has been installed and tested on the BM30b/FAME beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility to improve its performances. The energy resolution of the spectrometer allows different kinds of measurements to be performed, including X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering and X‐ray Raman scattering experiments. The simplicity of the experimental device makes it easily implemented on a classical X‐ray absorption beamline. This improvement in the fluorescence detection is of particular importance when the probed element is embedded in a complex and/or heavy matrix, for example in environmental sciences.     

A method of hard X‐ray phase‐shifting digital holography

A new method of phase‐shifting digital holography is demonstrated in the hard X‐ray region. An in‐line‐type phase‐shifting holography setup was installed in a 6.80 keV hard X‐ray synchrotron beamline. By placing a phase plate consisting of a hole and a band at the focusing point of a Fresnel lens, the relative phase of the reference and objective beams could be successfully shifted for use with a three‐step phase‐shift algorithm. The system was verified by measuring the shape of a gold test pattern and a silica sphere.     

X‐ray spectromicroscopy with the scanning transmission X‐ray microscope at BESSY II

Using the scanning transmission X‐ray microscope at BESSY II, colloidal structures from a Chernozem soil have been studied with a spatial resolution around 60 nm and a spectral resolution of 1700 at the K‐absorption edge of carbon. Elemental mapping has been used to determine the distribution of organic matter within the colloidal structures. Spectra have been extracted from image stacks to obtain information about the chemical state. For the analysis of the latter, principal component analysis and cluster analysis have been applied. It was possible, for example, to discriminate clay particles against organic components.     

The multi‐purpose hard X‐ray beamline BL10 at the DELTA storage ring

The layout and the characteristics of the hard X‐ray beamline BL10 at the superconducting asymmetric wiggler at the 1.5 GeV Dortmund Electron Accelerator DELTA are described. This beamline is equipped with a Si(111) channel‐cut monochromator and is dedicated to X‐ray studies in the spectral range from ～4 keV to ～16 keV photon energy. There are two different endstations available. While X‐ray absorption studies in different detection modes (transmission, fluorescence, reflectivity) can be performed on a designated table, a six‐axis kappa diffractometer is installed for X‐ray scattering and reflectivity experiments. Different detector set‐ups are integrated into the beamline control software, i.e. gas‐filled ionization chambers, different photodiodes, as well as a Pilatus 2D‐detector are permanently available. The performance of the beamline is illustrated by high‐quality X‐ray absorption spectra from several reference compounds. First applications include temperature‐dependent EXAFS experiments from liquid‐nitrogen temperature in a bath cryostat up to ～660 K by using a dedicated furnace. Besides transmission measurements, fluorescence detection for dilute sample systems as well as surface‐sensitive reflection‐mode experiments are presented.     

High‐energy X‐ray optics with silicon saw‐tooth refractive lenses

Silicon saw‐tooth refractive lenses have been in successful use for vertical focusing and collimation of high‐energy X‐rays (50–100 keV) at the 1‐ID undulator beamline of the Advanced Photon Source. In addition to presenting an effectively parabolic thickness profile, as required for aberration‐free refractive optics, these devices allow high transmission and continuous tunability in photon energy and focal length. Furthermore, the use of a single‐crystal material (i.e. Si) minimizes small‐angle scattering background. The focusing performance of such saw‐tooth lenses, used in conjunction with the 1‐ID beamline's bent double‐Laue monochromator, is presented for both short (～1:0.02) and long (～1:0.6) focal‐length geometries, giving line‐foci in the 2 µm–25 µm width range with 81 keV X‐rays. In addition, a compound focusing scheme was tested whereby the radiation intercepted by a distant short‐focal‐length lens is increased by having it receive a collimated beam from a nearer (upstream) lens. The collimation capabilities of Si saw‐tooth lenses are also exploited to deliver enhanced throughput of a subsequently placed small‐angular‐acceptance high‐energy‐resolution post‐monochromator in the 50–80 keV range. The successful use of such lenses in all these configurations establishes an important detail, that the pre‐monochromator, despite being comprised of vertically reflecting bent Laue geometry crystals, can be brilliance‐preserving to a very high degree.     

惯性约束聚变点火靶候选靶丸特点及制备研究进展

获得能量增益实现点火是目前激光惯性约束聚变领域研究的主要方向和标志性成果. 在点火靶的设计中有多种可能的候选靶丸,包括碳氢掺杂锗、铍掺杂铜、聚酰亚胺、 碳化硼和金刚石靶丸,其中碳氢和铍靶丸是最主要的候选靶丸.文中主要总结了几种候选靶丸的优缺点及目前研制现状.在国外,碳氢靶丸是目前点火靶的首选靶丸. 与铍靶丸相比,不存在明显的微结构缺陷,制备较容易;靶丸光学透明, 适宜于燃料分层和表征;靶丸在制备上更容易达到点火靶要求. 美国的碳氢点火靶靶丸基本达到了设计要求,这些要求包括几何尺寸、壳层密度、 壳层缺陷、表面光洁度、掺杂水平和杂质含量等.我国的点火靶靶丸研究还处在起步阶段.     

神光系列装置激光聚变实验与诊断技术研究进展

文章主要介绍了国内自2000年以来的激光惯性约束聚变（ICF）实验研究以及诊断技术研究的进展,主要内容为神光II激光装置上的实验,也对刚建成不久的神光III原型装置上的实验作简要介绍,此外,文章还介绍了神光II和神光III原型装置上近期发展的诊断技术和设备.文章作者在神光II激光装置上开展了多项的物理实验研究,其中包括黑腔物理、内爆物理、流体动力学不稳定性、辐射不透明度以及辐射驱动冲击波等,并取得了重要的进展.在X射线单能成像、Thomson探针、无高级衍射的单级衍射光栅等新型关键诊断技术与尖端设备研制方面也取得了显著进展.     

Focusing femtosecond X‐ray free‐electron laser pulses by refractive lenses

The possibility of using a parabolic refractive lens with initial X‐ray free‐electron laser (XFEL) pulses, i.e. without a monochromator, is analysed. It is assumed that the measurement time is longer than 0.3 fs, which is the time duration of a coherent pulse (spike). In this case one has to calculate the propagation of a monochromatic wave and then perform an integration of the intensity over the radiation spectrum. Here a general algorithm for calculating the propagation of time‐dependent radiation in free space and through various objects is presented. Analytical formulae are derived describing the properties of the monochromatic beam focused by a system of one and two lenses. Computer simulations show that the European XFEL pulses can be focused with maximal efficiency, i.e. as for a monochromatic wave. This occurs even for nanofocusing lenses.     

Simultaneous X‐ray fluorescence and scanning X‐ray diffraction microscopy at the Australian Synchrotron XFM beamline

Owing to its extreme sensitivity, quantitative mapping of elemental distributions via X‐ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) has become a key microanalytical technique. The recent realisation of scanning X‐ray diffraction microscopy (SXDM) meanwhile provides an avenue for quantitative super‐resolved ultra‐structural visualization. The similarity of their experimental geometries indicates excellent prospects for simultaneous acquisition. Here, in both step‐ and fly‐scanning modes, robust, simultaneous XFM‐SXDM is demonstrated.