国家点火装置(NIF)点火靶制备技术研究进展

文章介绍了国家点火装置(NIF)点火靶制备技术在近年来取得的一些最新进展,主要内容包括芯轴与靶丸的制备,氘氚(DT)冰层的均匀化等方面.     

The first target experiments on the National Ignition Facility

A first set of shock timing, laser-plasma interaction, hohlraum energetics and hydrodynamic experiments have been performed using the first 4 beams of the National Ignition Facility (NIF), in support of indirect drive Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) and High Energy Density Physics (HEDP). In parallel, a robust set of optical and X-ray spectrometers, interferometer, calorimeters and imagers have been activated. The experiments have been undertaken with laser powers and energies of up to 8 TW and 17 kJ in flattop and shaped 1–9 ns pulses focused with various beam smoothing options. The experiments have demonstrated excellent agreement between measured and predicted laser-target coupling in foils and hohlraums, even when extended to a longer pulse regime unattainable at previous laser facilities, validated the predicted effects of beam smoothing on intense laser beam propagation in long scale-length plasmas and begun to test 3D codes by extending the study of laser driven hydrodynamic jets to 3D geometries.     

黑腔中等离子体相互作用的流体力学现象观测

激光间接驱动惯性约束聚变实验中,黑腔内情况复杂,在激光烧蚀和辐射烧蚀等的驱动下,光斑区、冕区、纯辐射烧蚀区、射流区的多种等离子体以不同规律运动.发展了X光双能段窄能带的时间分辨成像方法,用以观测黑腔内多种等离子体的运动情况.在真空黑腔中观测到清晰的射流,分析了射流产生机制及其速度;在黑腔中充气,能有效消除射流和抑制冕区等离子体运动,但两种物质界面处可能会出现流体力学不稳定性等现象,分析了界面处的压力平衡关系和密度陡变情况.     

Physics at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility

We present here a brief summary of the presentation given at the Quark-Gluon-Plasma Thermalization Workshop in Vienna, Austria in August 2005, directly following the International Quark Matter Conference in Hungary.     

Multilayer-based soft X-ray polarimeter at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility

A compact high precision eight-axis automatism and two-axis manual soft-ray polarimeter with a multilayer has been designed, constructed, and installed in 3W1B at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF). Four operational modes in the same device, which are double-reflection, double-transmission, front-reflection-behind-transmission and front-transmission-behind-reflection, have been realized. It can be used for the polarization analysis of synchrotron radiation. It also can be used to characterize the polarization properties of the optical elements in the soft X-ray energy range. Some experiments with Mo/Si and Cr/C multilayers have been performed by using this polarimeter with good results obtained.     

Charge compensation and capacity fading in LiCoO_2 at high voltage investigated by soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy

In order to obtain an in-depth insight into the mechanism of charge compensation and capacity fading in LiCoO_2, the evolution of electronic structure of LiCoO_2 at different cutoff voltages and after different cycles are studied by soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy in total electron(TEY) and fluorescence(TFY) detection modes, which provide surface and bulk information, respectively. The spectra of Co L2,3-edge indicate that Co contributes to charge compensation below 4.4 V.Combining with the spectra of O K-edge, it manifests that only O contributes to electron compensation above 4.4 V with the formation of local O 2 p holes both on the surface and in the bulk, where the surficial O evolves more remarkably. The evolution of the O 2 p holes gives an explanation to the origin of O_2~-or even O_2. A comparison between the TEY and TFY of O K-edge spectra of LiCoO_2 cycled in a range from 3 V to 4.6 V indicates both the structural change in the bulk and aggregation of lithium salts on the electrode surface are responsible for the capacity fading. However, the latter is found to play a more important role after many cycles.     

Intensity of high energy plasmon satellites band in soft x-ray emission spectra

Using Bohm and Pines theory of plasma oscillations in solids the relative intensities of the Mg K^V_β and Al K^VI_β satellites have been estimated as 0.89% and 0.61% respectively. These values are in close agreement with the experimental values reported by Kunzl.     

Electromagnetic-field distribution measurements in the soft x-ray range: full characterization of a soft x-ray laser beam

We report direct measurement of the electromagnetic-field spatial distribution in a neonlike Ar capillary discharge-driven soft x-ray laser beam. The wave front was fully characterized in a single shot using a Shack-Hartmann diffractive optics sensor. The wave front was observed to be dependent on the discharge pressure and capillary length, as a result of beam refraction variations in the capillary plasma. The results predict approximately 70% of the laser beam energy can be focused into an area 4 times the size of the diffraction-limited spot, reaching intensities of approximately 4 x 10(13) W/cm(2).     

High-resolution spatial characterization of laser produced plasmas at soft x-ray wavelengths

In this article, we describe the setup and application of a system for the spatial characterization of laser-produced plasma x-ray sources. While pinhole cameras are normally used for this purpose, we employed a zone plate to act as the x-ray lens. Together with an x-ray CCD camera as the detector, a spatial resolution of up to 2 m was achieved. Due to the wavelength-dependent focal length of a zone plate, the monochromaticity of the image was better than /=150, and the large aperture of the zone plate allowed single-laser-shot images to be collected. Methanol and ethanol were used as liquid-jet target systems. Two different Nd:YAG lasers with pulse durations of 3 ns and 10 ns produced the plasmas. Our measurements concentrated on the line emission of carbon in the soft x-ray spectral range, namely, the hydrogen-like -line at 3.37 nm and the helium-like -line at 4.03 nm. We investigated the influence of different nozzle sizes, laser energies, and pulse durations on the source size of the plasma. Depending on the experimental conditions, plasma diameters of 17–60 m were measured. PACS 41.50.+h; 52.38.-r; 52.70.La     

Total quantum-current yield in the soft x-ray region

The emission of slow secondary electrons excited in efficient photocathodes by fast internal x-ray electrons upon absorption of x-ray photons having energies in the range 1–10 keV is analyzed. Analytical expressions are derived for the quantum current yield of the x-ray photoelectric effect for a “point” model and a “non-point” model of energy exchange of fast internal x-ray electrons. We present some estimates for its parameters in a CsI photocathode. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1042–1046 (June 1998)     

Effect of laser focus in two-color synthesized waveform on generation of soft x-ray high harmonics

Synthesis of multi-color laser pulses has been developed as a promising way to improve low conversion efficiency of high-order harmonic generation (HHG). Here we systematically study the effect of laser focus in a two-color waveform on generation of macroscopic HHG in soft x-rays. We find that the dependence of HHG yields on laser focus at low or high gas pressure is sensitive to the characteristics of single-atom harmonic response, in which "short"-or "long"-trajectory emissions can be selectively controlled by changing the waveform of two-color synthesized laser pulse. We uncover the phase-matching mechanism of HHG in the gas medium by examining the propagation of the two-color waveform and the evolution of time-frequency emissions of high-harmonic field. We further reveal that the nonlinear effects, such as geometric phase, atomic dispersion, and plasma defocusing, are responsible for modification of two-color waveform upon propagation. This work can be used to find better macroscopic conditions for generating soft x-ray HHG by employing two-color optimized waveforms.     

Amplification of the phase contrast signal at very high x-ray energies

X-ray phase contrast imaging is increasingly being used in several fields, both at synchrotron facilities and with laboratory sources, due to its increased sensitivity compared to conventional x-ray methods. One important problem is the development of methods to make it suitable for use at very high x-ray energies, needed in many applications. We show how the edge illumination concept, which stands at the basis of the coded-aperture method, allows achieving hyperintense phase signals at energies close to 100 keV, by showing images of both weak phase objects and highly absorbing fossils with a high iron content.     

Angular distribution of photoelectrons in the soft x-ray region

The angular distribution of photoelectrons ejected from the 2p shell in neon was investigated, for the first time, in the soft x-ray region, using a do     

Double-sided laser heating system at HPCAT for in situ x-ray diffraction at high pressures and high temperatures

An overview of a YLF:Nd laser heating system at the undulator x-ray diffraction station (16ID-B) of the high-pressure collaborative access team (HPCAT) of the Advanced Photon Source is presented. Based on the double-sided laser heating technique, the system is designed with considerable effort on the mechanical and optical stabilities, features for user-friendly operation, and the capability of accommodating diamond anvil cells of various heights up to 68?mm. This system has been used for x-ray diffraction studies of a wide range of materials to over 150?GPa and above 3000?K. Applying the laser heating technique to radial x-ray diffraction studies at simultaneous high-pressure and high-temperature (PT) conditions requires heating to be conducted at variable angles relative to the x-ray direction. A rotation laser heating design is discussed.     

Ignition studies in support of the European High Power Laser Energy Research Facility project

The European High Power Laser Energy Research Facility (HiPER) project is one of a number of large-scale scientific infrastructure projects supported by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Part of this project involves the development of a target area for the exploration of inertial fusion energy. This paper describes some of the research that is being carried out by the author in support of this aspect of the program. The effects of different regions of the fusion target mixing prior to thermonuclear ignition have been investigated using the 1D Lagrangian radiation hydrodynamics simulation code HYADES. Results suggest that even low (few parts per million) levels of contamination of fuel by high-Z ion species may inhibit ignition due to radiative cooling of the ignition spot.     

Demonstration of a Ni-like Kr optical-field-ionization collisional soft x-ray laser at 32.8 nm

We report the first experimental demonstration of a Ni-like optical-field ionization collisional soft x-ray laser. The amplifying medium is generated by focusing a circularly polarized 760 mJ, 30 fs, 10-Hz Ti:sapphire laser beam in a few mm cell filled with krypton. We have measured a gain coefficient of 78 cm(-1) on the 3d(9)4d 1S0-3d(9)4p(1)P1 transition at 32.8 nm, which is here amplified for the first time. This radiation source represents the shortest wavelength optical-field ionization collisional soft x-ray laser ever produced. The influence of the gas pressure and the pumping energy on the lasing output are also presented.