Symmetric inertial-confinement-fusion-capsule implosions in a double-z-pinch-driven hohlraum

An inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) concept using two 60-MA Z pinches to drive a cylindrical hohlraum to 220 eV has been recently proposed. The first capsule implosions relevant to this concept have been performed at the same physical scale with a lower 20-MA current, yielding a 70+/-5 eV capsule drive. The capsule shell shape implies a polar radiation symmetry, the first high-accuracy measurement of this type in a pulsed-power-driven ICF configuration, within a factor of 1.6-4 of that required for scaling to ignition. The convergence ratio of 14-21 is to date the highest in any pulsed-power ICF system.     

Demonstration of radiation symmetry control for inertial confinement fusion in double Z-pinch hohlraums

Simulations of a double Z-pinch hohlraum, relevant to the high-yield inertial-confinement-fusion concept, predict that through geometry design the time-integrated P2 Legendre mode drive asymmetry can be systematically controlled from positive to negative coefficient values. Studying capsule elongation, recent experiments on Z confirm such control by varying the secondary hohlraum length. Since the experimental trend and optimum length are correctly modeled, confidence is gained in the simulation tools; the same tools predict capsule drive uniformity sufficient for high-yield fusion ignition.     

Double Z-pinch hohlraum drive with excellent temperature balance for symmetric inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions

A double Z pinch driving a cylindrical secondary hohlraum from each end has been developed which can indirectly drive intertial confinement fusion capsule implosions with time-averaged radiation fields uniform to 2%-4%. 2D time-dependent view factor and 2D radiation hydrodynamic simulations using the measured primary hohlraum temperatures show that capsule convergence ratios of at least 10 with average distortions from sphericity of /r200 MJ.     

Fill-tube-induced mass perturbations on x-ray-driven, ignition-scale, inertial-confinement-fusion capsule shells and the implications for ignition experiments

On the first inertial-confinement-fusion ignition facility, the target capsule will be DT filled through a long, narrow tube inserted into the shell. microg-scale shell perturbations Delta m' arising from multiple, 10-50 microm-diameter, hollow SiO2 tubes on x-ray-driven, ignition-scale, 1-mg capsules have been measured on a subignition device. Simulations compare well with observation, whence it is corroborated that Delta m' arises from early x-ray shadowing by the tube rather than tube mass coupling to the shell, and inferred that 10-20 microm tubes will negligibly affect fusion yield on a full-ignition facility.     

High-gain magnetized inertial fusion

Magnetized inertial fusion (MIF) could substantially ease the difficulty of reaching plasma conditions required for significant fusion yields, but it has been widely accepted that the gain is not sufficient for fusion energy. Numerical simulations are presented showing that high-gain MIF is possible in cylindrical liner implosions based on the MagLIF concept [S. A. Slutz et al Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)] with the addition of a cryogenic layer of deuterium-tritium (DT). These simulations show that a burn wave propagates radially from the magnetized hot spot into the surrounding much denser cold DT given sufficient hot-spot areal density. For a drive current of 60 MA the simulated gain exceeds 100, which is more than adequate for fusion energy applications. The simulated gain exceeds 1000 for a drive current of 70 MA.     

Measurements of magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth during the implosion of initially solid Al tubes driven by the 20-MA, 100-ns Z facility

The first controlled experiments measuring the growth of the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability in fast (～100 ns) Z-pinch plasmas are reported. Sinusoidal perturbations on the surface of an initially solid Al tube (liner) with wavelengths of 25-400 μm were used to seed the instability. Radiographs with 15 μm resolution captured the evolution of the outer liner surface. Comparisons with numerical radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations show remarkably good agreement down to 50 μm wavelengths.     

Demonstration of radiation pulse shaping with nested-tungsten-wire-array pinches for high-yield inertial confinement fusion

Nested wire-array pinches are shown to generate soft x-ray radiation pulse shapes required for three-shock isentropic compression and hot-spot ignition of high-yield inertial confinement fusion capsules. We demonstrate a reproducible and tunable foot pulse (first shock) produced by interaction of the outer and inner arrays. A first-step pulse (second shock) is produced by inner array collision with a central CH2 foam target. Stagnation of the inner array at the axis produces the third shock. Capsules optimized for several of these shapes produce 290-900 MJ fusion yields in 1D simulations.     

X-ray imaging measurements of capsule implosions driven by a Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum

The radiation and shock generated by impact of an annular tungsten Z-pinch plasma on a 10-mm diam 5-mg/cc CH(2) foam are diagnosed with x-ray imaging and power measurements. The radiative shock was virtually unaffected by Z-pinch plasma instabilities. The 5-ns-duration approximately 135-eV radiation field imploded a 2.1-mm-diam CH capsule. The measured radiation temperature, shock radius, and capsule radius agreed well with computer simulations, indicating understanding of the main features of a Z-pinch dynamic-hohlraum-driven capsule implosion.