F. D. Lee

X-ray backlighting for the National Ignition Facility (invited)

X-ray backlighting is a powerful tool for diagnosing a large variety of high-energy-density phenomena. Traditional area backlighting techniques used at Nova and Omega cannot be extended efficiently to NIF-scale. New, more efficient backlighting sources and techniques are required and have begun to show promising results. These include a backlit-pinhole point projection technique, pinhole and slit arrays, distributed polychromatic sources, and picket fence backlighters. In parallel, there have been developments in improving the data SNR and hence quality by switching from film to CCD-based recording media and by removing the fixed-pattern noise of MCP-based cameras.

Target diagnostic system for the national ignition facility (invited)

A review of recent progress on the design of a diagnostic system proposed for ignition target experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) will be presented. This diagnostic package contains an extensive suite of optical, x ray, gamma ray, and neutron diagnostics that enable measurements of the performance of both direct and indirect driven NIF targets. The philosophy used in designing all of the diagnostics in the set has emphasized redundant and independent measurement of fundamental physical quantities relevant to the operation of the NIF target. A unique feature of these diagnostics is that they are being designed to be capable of operating in the high radiation, electromagnetic pulse, and debris backgrounds expected on the NIF facility. The diagnostic system proposed can be categorized into three broad areas: laser characterization, hohlraum characterization, and capsule performance diagnostics. The operating principles of a representative instrument from each class of diagnostic employed in t...

Filter-fluorescer diagnostic system for the National Ignition Facility

An early filter-fluorescer diagnostic system is being fielded at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to measure the amount of hard x rays (20<hν<150 keV) generated in laser fusion experiments. From these measurements we hope to quantify the number of hot electrons produced in laser fusion experiments. The measurement of hot electron production is important for ignition experiments because these electrons can preheat the fuel capsule. Hot electrons can also be employed in experimentation by preheating hydrodynamic packages or by driving plasmas out of equilibrium. The experimental apparatus, data collection, analysis and calibration issues are discussed. Expected data signal levels are predicted and discussed.

Hard x-ray and hot electron environment in vacuum hohlraums at the National Ignition Facility

Time resolved hard x-ray images (hv>9keV) and time integrated hard x-ray spectra (hv=18–150keV) from vacuum hohlraums irradiated with four 351nm wavelength National Ignition Facility [J. A. Paisner, E. M. Campbell, and W. J. Hogan, Fusion Technol. 26, 755 (1994)] laser beams are presented as a function of hohlraum size, laser power, and duration. The hard x-ray images and spectra provide insight into the time evolution of the hohlraum plasma filling and the production of hot electrons. The fraction of laser energy detected as hot electrons (Fhot) shows a correlation with laser intensity and with an empirical hohlraum plasma filling model. In addition, the significance of Au K-alpha emission and Au K-shell reabsorption observed in some of the bremsstrahlung dominated spectra is discussed.

Laser coupling to reduced-scale hohlraum targets at the Early Light Program of the National Ignition Facility

A platform for analysis of material properties under extreme conditions, where a sample is bathed in radiation with a high temperature, is under development. Depositing maximum laser energy into a small, high-Z enclosure produces this hot environment. Such targets were recently included in an experimental campaign using the first four of the 192 beams of the National Ignition Facility [J. A. Paisner, E. M. Campbell, and W. J. Hogan, Fusion Technol. 26, 755 (1994)], under construction at the University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. These targets demonstrate good laser coupling, reaching a radiation temperature of 340 eV. In addition, there is a unique wavelength dependence of the Raman backscattered light that is consistent with Brillouin backscatter of Raman forward scatter [A. B. Langdon and D. E. Hinkel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 015003 (2002)]. Finally, novel diagnostic capabilities indicate that 20% of the direct backscatter from these reduced-scale targets is in the polarization or...

Design of the National Ignition Facility static x-ray imager

Two static x-ray imagers (SXI) will be used to monitor beam pointing on all target shots in the National Ignition Facility. These pinhole-based instruments will provide time integrated two-dimensional images of target x-ray emissions in the energy range between 2 and 3 keV. These instruments are not DIM based and will view along dedicated lines of sight from near the top and bottom ports of the target chamber. Beams that miss or clip the hohlraum laser-entrance holes will produce x-ray emission on the ends of the hohlraum, indicating improper beam pointing and/or target positioning. The SXIs will also be used to quantify beam focusing and pointing by producing x-ray images of dedicated test targets irradiated by focused beams at precalculated positions. A proposed design is presented, along with supporting data from NOVA target experiments.

Design of the National Ignition Facility diagnostic instrument manipulator

The diagnostic instrument manipulator (DIM) provides a diagnostic platform to insert and retract a variety of instruments into and out of the National Ignition Facility target chamber. The DIM is a two-stage telescoping system, designed to fit on any of the DIM designated diagnostic ports on the target chamber, and will provide precision radial positioning, pointing, and alignment-to-target capability. The DIM provides a standard set of utilities, and cables to support the operation of instruments that require insertion into the target chamber. The DIM provides for positioning of diagnostic packages, and enables exchange of manipulator diagnostics between fusion laboratories. Principal design requirements for the DIM are presented. A half-length prototype of the DIM was designed and fabricated by Atomic Weapons Establishment in England and is being tested at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The results of this testing are presented.

National Ignition Facility core x-ray streak camera

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) core x-ray streak camera will be used for laser performance verification experiments as well as a wide range of physics experiments in the areas of high-energy-density science, inertial confinement fusion, and basic science. The x-ray streak camera system is being designed to record time-dependent x-ray emission from NIF targets using an interchangeable family of snouts for measurements such as one-dimensional (1D) spatial imaging or spectroscopy. the NIF core x-ray streak camera will consist of an x-ray-sensitive photocathode that detects x rays with 1D spatial resolution coupled to an electron streak tube to detect a continuous time history of the x rays incident on the photocathode over selected time periods. A charge-coupled-device (CCD) readout will record the signal from the streak tube. The streak tube, CCD, and associated electronics will reside in an electromagnetic interference, and electromagnetic pulse protected, hermetically sealed, temperature-controlled ...

Full aperture backscatter station measurement system on the National Ignition Facility

A full aperture backscatter station (FABS) target diagnostic has been activated on the first four beams of the National Ignition Facility. FABS measures both stimulated Brillouin scattering and stimulated Raman scattering with a suite of measurement instruments. Digital cameras and spectrometers record spectrally resolved energy for both P and S polarized light. Streaked spectrometers measure the spectral and temporal behavior of the backscattered light. Calorimeters and fast photodetectors measure the integrated energy and temporal behavior of the light, respectively. This article provides an overview of the FABS measurement system and detailed descriptions of the diagnostic instruments and the optical path.

Gas-filled hohlraum experiments at the National Ignition Facility

Experiments done at the National Ignition Facility laser [J. A. Paisner, E. M. Campbell, and W. Hogan, Fusion Technol. 26, 755 (1994)] using gas-filled hohlraums demonstrate a key ignition design feature, i.e., using plasma pressure from a gas fill to tamp the hohlraum-wall expansion for the duration of the laser pulse. Moreover, our understanding of hohlraum energetics and the ability to predict the hohlraum soft-x-ray drive has been validated in ignition-relevant conditions. Finally, the laser reflectivity from stimulated Raman scattering in the fill plasma, a key threat to hohlraum performance, is shown to be suppressed by choosing a design with a sufficiently high ratio of electron temperature to density.