Alastair Moore

Progress in hohlraum physics for the National Ignition Facilitya)

Advances in hohlraums for inertial confinement fusion at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) were made this past year in hohlraum efficiency, dynamic shape control, and hot electron and x-ray preheat control. Recent experiments are exploring hohlraum behavior over a large landscape of parameters by changing the hohlraum shape, gas-fill, and laser pulse. Radiation hydrodynamic modeling, which uses measured backscatter, shows that gas-filled hohlraums utilize between 60% and 75% of the laser power to match the measured bang-time, whereas near-vacuum hohlraums utilize 98%. Experiments seem to be pointing to deficiencies in the hohlraum (instead of capsule) modeling to explain most of the inefficiency in gas-filled targets. Experiments have begun quantifying the Cross Beam Energy Transfer (CBET) rate at several points in time for hohlraum experiments that utilize CBET for implosion symmetry. These measurements will allow better control of the dynamic implosion symmetry for these targets. New techniques are b...

Tailored blast wave formation: Developing experiments pertinent to laboratory astrophysics

The first production of “tailored” blast waves in a cluster media using an intense, 2×1016Wcm−2, laser pulse is reported. This new technique produces cylindrical blast waves with a strong axial modulation of variable spatial frequency as a seed for instability growth. Spherical or cylindrical colliding blast waves can also be produced. Energy deposition in the cluster medium was modified using moderate-power (<1015Wcm−2) “laser-machining,” which destroyed clusters in selected regions while keeping the atomic density constant. Electron density profiles track the time evolution showing the production of strongly modulated blast waves and the development of a thin shell after ≈6ns in H2. Similarity parameters suggest that the hydrogen results are hydrodynamically scalable, but instabilities are precluded by the lack of radiation and low Reynolds number. Similar argon and xenon experiments do not form blast waves on the studied time scale, but indicate that radiation might become influential later in the evol...

High resolution imaging of colliding blast waves in cluster media

Strong shocks and blast wave collisions are commonly observed features in astrophysical objects such as nebulae and supernova remnants. Numerical simulations often underpin our understanding of these complex systems, however modelling of such extreme phenomena remains challenging, particularly so for the case of radiative or colliding shocks. This highlights the need for well-characterized laboratory experiments both to guide physical insight and to provide robust data for code benchmarking. Creating a sufficiently high-energy-density gas medium for conducting scaled laboratory astrophysics experiments has historically been problematic, but the unique ability of atomic cluster gases to efficiently couple to intense pulses of laser light now enables table top scale (1 J input energy) studies to be conducted at gas densities of >1019 particles cm−3 with an initial energy density >5 × 109 J g−1. By laser heating atomic cluster gas media we can launch strong (up to Mach 55) shocks in a range of geometries, with and without radiative precursors. These systems have been probed with a range of optical and interferometric diagnostics in order to retrieve electron density profiles and blast wave trajectories. Colliding cylindrical shock systems have also been studied, however the strongly asymmetric density profiles and radial and longitudinal mass flow that result demand a more complex diagnostic technique based on tomographic phase reconstruction. We have used the 3D magnetoresistive hydrocode GORGON to model these systems and to highlight interesting features such as the formation of a Mach stem for further study.

Radiation transport and energetics of laser-driven half-hohlraums at the National Ignition Facility

Experiments that characterize and develop a high energy-density half-hohlraum platform for use in benchmarking radiation hydrodynamics models have been conducted at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Results from the experiments are used to quantitatively compare with simulations of the radiation transported through an evolving plasma density structure, colloquially known as an N-wave. A half-hohlraum is heated by 80 NIF beams to a temperature of 240 eV. This creates a subsonic diffusive Marshak wave, which propagates into a high atomic number Ta2O5 aerogel. The subsequent radiation transport through the aerogel and through slots cut into the aerogel layer is investigated. We describe a set of experiments that test the hohlraum performance and report on a range of x-ray measurements that absolutely quantify the energetics and radiation partition inside the target.

Streaked radiography of an irradiated foam sample on the National Ignition Facility

Streaked x-ray radiography images of annular patterns in an evolving tantalum oxide foam under the influence of a driven, subsonic radiation wave were obtained on the National Ignition Facility. This is the first successful radiography measurement of the evolution of well-defined foam features under a driven, subsonic wave in the diffusive regime. A continuous record of the evolution was recorded on an x-ray streak camera, using a slot-apertured point-projection backlighter with an 8 ns nickel source (7.9 keV). Radiography images were obtained for four different annular patterns, which were corrected using a source-dependent flat-field image. The evolution of the foam features was well-modeled using the 3D KULL radiation hydrodynamics code. This experimental and modeling platform can be modified for scaled high-energy-density laboratory astrophysics experiments.

Laser heating of large noble gas clusters: from the resonant to the relativistic interaction regimes

Wide-ranging measurements of sub-picosecond laser interactions with large noble gas cluster targets have been conducted in order to help clarify the nature and extent of the underlying laser?plasma heating. Within the sub-relativistic vacuum irradiance range of 1016?1017?W?cm-2, we find that electron temperatures measured with continuum x-ray spectroscopy exhibit a pronounced multi-keV enhancement. Analysis indicates this behaviour to be consistent with collisional or collisionless resonant heating mechanisms. We also present the first measurements of laser-to-cluster energy deposition at relativistic vacuum irradiances, our data demonstrating absorption fractions of 90% or more. Optical probing was used to resolve the onset of a supersonic ionization front resulting from this very high absorption, and shows that despite significant pre-focus heating, the greatest plasma energy densities can be generated about the vacuum focus position. Electron energy spectra measurements confirm that laser?plasma super-heating occurs, and together with ion data establish that relativistic laser?plasma coupling in atomic clusters can take place without significant MeV particle beam production. In conjunction with optical self-emission data, the optical probing also indicates laser pre-pulse effects at peak vacuum irradiance of 5 ? 1019?W?cm-2. Laser absorption, plasma heating and energy transport data are supported throughout with analytical and numerical modelling.

Blast-wave diagnosis of self-focusing of an intense laser pulse in a cluster medium

Self-focusing of intense laser pulses in a gas of atomic clusters is diagnosed in both long (>700fs) and short (<100fs) pulse regimes. This investigation uses blast-wave analysis techniques, which are sensitive to deposited energy, as a tool to identify locations of self-focusing. The detection of highly energetic x rays from the interaction of the short pulse with the clusters suggests the activation of electron acceleration in the self-focused high-intensity channels produced. The self-focusing is attributed to the optical properties of the clusters since it occurs at moderate laser powers and the cluster parameters are critical to the extent of the channel that forms.

Tailored Blast Wave Production Pertaining to Supernova Remnants

We report on the first production of “tailored” blast waves in cluster media using a 1 ps laser pulse focused to 2 × 1016 W/cm2. This new technique allows cylindrical blast waves to be produced with a strong axial modulation of variable spatial frequency, as a seed for instability growth. Energy deposition is modified by changing the cluster density whilst keeping the atomic density of the target constant. Electron density maps show the production of strongly modulated blast waves and the development of a thin shell structure in H at late times, and the trajectories show blast waves forming in H, and Ar. In Xe, a blast wave does not form on the timescales studied. Analysis of astrophysical similarity parameters suggests that a hydrodynamically similar situation is created in H, and that further evolution would create a regime where radiative effects may be influential in Ar and Xe.

Quantifying equation-of-state and opacity errors using integrated supersonic diffusive radiation flow experiments on the National Ignition Facility

A well diagnosed campaign of supersonic, diffusive radiation flow experiments has been fielded on the National Ignition Facility. These experiments have used the accurate measurements of delivered laser energy and foam density to enable an investigation into SESAMEs tabulated equation-of-state values and CASSANDRAs predicted opacity values for the low-density C8H7Cl foam used throughout the campaign. We report that the results from initial simulations under-predicted the arrival time of the radiation wave through the foam by ≈22%. A simulation study was conducted that artificially scaled the equation-of-state and opacity with the intended aim of quantifying the systematic offsets in both CASSANDRA and SESAME. Two separate hypotheses which describe these errors have been tested using the entire ensemble of data, with one being supported by these data.

Semi-empirical “leaky-bucket” model of laser-driven x-ray cavities

A semi-empirical analytical model is shown to approximately describe the energy balance in a laser-driven x-ray cavity, such as a hohlraum, for general laser pulse-shapes. Agreement between the model and measurements relies on two scalar parameters, one characterizes the efficiency of x-ray generation for a given laser power and the other represents a characteristic power-loss rate. These parameters, once obtained through estimation or optimization for a particular hohlraum design, can be used to predict either the x-ray flux or the coupled laser power time-history in terms of other quantities for similar hohlraum designs. The value of the model is that it can be used as an approximate “first-look” at hohlraum energy balance prior to a more detailed radiation hydrodynamic modeling.