Frederic J. Marshall

QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS WITH X-RAY MICROSCOPES IN LASER-FUSION EXPERIMENTS

X‐ray imaging of laser‐fusion target implosions has been performed on the University of Rochester’s OMEGA laser system by means of grazing‐incidence optical imaging with Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB) microscopes. High spatial resolution imaging (∼5 μm) of hard x‐ray emission (up to ∼7 keV) has been achieved. New grazing‐incidence optics are currently being fabricated for the OMEGA Upgrade experimental laser‐fusion facility. Projected performance indicates that resolution may be increased to ∼2 μm at the center of the field of view and sensitivity extended to ∼8 keV. Uses of KB microscopes on the OMEGA Upgrade will include hard x‐ray imaging, grating‐dispersed imaged spectroscopy, and framed imaging. A novel technique for monochromatic imaging with KB microscopes has also been demonstrated enabling images of target emission in a narrow energy band (10 to 20 eV) to be obtained.

Imaging of laser--plasma x-ray emission with charge-injection devices

This work details the method of obtaining time-integrated images of laser–plasma x-ray emission using charge-injection devices (CIDs), as has been demonstrated on the University of Rochester’s 60-beam UV OMEGA laser facility [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)]. The CID has an architecture similar to a charge-coupled device. The differences make them more resistant to radiation damage and, therefore, more appropriate for some application in laser–plasma x-ray imaging. CID-recorded images have been obtained with x-ray pinhole cameras, x-ray microscopes, x-ray spectrometers, and monochromatic x-ray imaging systems. Simultaneous images obtained on these systems with calibrated x-ray film have enabled determination of the absolute detection efficiency of the CIDs in the energy range from 2 to 8 keV.

Direct-drive high-convergence-ratio implosion studies on the OMEGA laser system*

A series of direct-drive implosion experiments, using room-temperature, gas-filled CH targets, are performed on the University of Rochester’s OMEGA laser system [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)]. The target performance at stagnation and its dependence on beam smoothing and pulse shaping is investigated. Compressed core conditions are diagnosed using x-ray and neutron spectroscopy, and x-ray imaging. The individual beams of OMEGA are smoothed by spectral dispersion in two dimensions (2D SSD) with laser bandwidths up to ∼0.3 THz, with 1 ns square to 2.5 ns shaped pulses. A clear dependence of target performance on pulse shape and beam smoothing is seen, with the target performance (yield, areal density, and shell integrity) improving as SSD bandwidth is applied.

Direct-drive, hollow-shell implosion studies on the 60-beam, UV OMEGA laser system

Direct-drive implosion experiments have been performed on the University of Rochester’s 60-beam, 30 kJ, UV (351 nm) OMEGA [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)] laser system to investigate the conditions at maximum compression of polymer–shell targets with zero- or low-pressure (⩽3 atm) gas fills. By using deuterium-bearing shells (CD), the imploded-core conditions have been diagnosed with both x-ray and neutron spectral measurements. The core electron temperature (kTe) and shell areal density (ρRshell) are determined from the emergent x-ray spectrum, while independent inferences of ρRshell are obtained from the measured primary (DD) and secondary (DT) neutron yields. Target performance was investigated for a range of beam-smoothing conditions [none to 0.25 THz-bandwidth smoothing by spectral dispersion along two dimensions (2-D SSD)] and a set of pulse shapes (1 ns square pulse to a 2.5 ns pulse with a 1:40 foot-to-main-pulse power ratio). The results have conclusively demonstrated the abili...

Indirect drive experiments utilizing multiple beam cones in cylindrical hohlraums on OMEGA

Current plans for time-dependent control of flux asymmetry in the National Ignition Facility [J. A. Paisner, J. D. Boyes, S. A. Kumpan, and M. Sorem, “The National Ignition Facility Project,” ICF Quart. 5, 110 (1995)] hohlraums rely on multiple beam cones with different laser power temporal profiles in each cone. Experiments with multiple beam cones have begun on the Omega laser facility [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)] at the University of Rochester. In addition to allowing symmetry experiments similar to those performed on Nova [A. Hauer et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 66, 672 (1995)], the Omega facility allows multiple beam cones to be moved independently to confirm our ability to model the resulting implosion image shapes. Results indicate that hohlraum symmetry behaves similarly with multiple rings of beams as with a single ring, but with the weighted beam spot position used to parametrize the beam pointing.

Detailed high-resolution three-dimensional simulations of OMEGA separated reactants inertial confinement fusion experiments

We present results from the comparison of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) simulations with data from the implosions of inertial confinement fusion capsules with separated reactants performed on the OMEGA laser facility. Each capsule, referred to as a “CD Mixcap,” is filled with tritium and has a polystyrene (CH) shell with a deuterated polystyrene (CD) layer whose burial depth is varied. In these implosions, fusion reactions between deuterium and tritium ions can occur only in the presence of atomic mix between the gas fill and shell material. The simulations feature accurate models for all known experimental asymmetries and do not employ any adjustable parameters to improve agreement with experimental data. Simulations are performed with the RAGE radiation-hydrodynamics code using an Implicit Large Eddy Simulation (ILES) strategy for the hydrodynamics. We obtain good agreement with the experimental data, including the DT/TT neutron yield ratios used to diagnose mix, for all burial depths of the deuterated shell layer. Additionally, simulations demonstrate good agreement with converged simulations employing explicit models for plasma diffusion and viscosity, suggesting that the implicit sub-grid model used in ILES is sufficient to model these processes in these experiments. In our simulations, mixing is driven by short-wavelength asymmetries and longer-wavelength features are responsible for developing flows that transport mixed material towards the center of the hot spot. Mix material transported by this process is responsible for most of the mix (DT) yield even for the capsule with a CD layer adjacent to the tritium fuel. Consistent with our previous results, mix does not play a significant role in TT neutron yield degradation; instead, this is dominated by the displacement of fuel from the center of the implosion due to the development of turbulent instabilities seeded by long-wavelength asymmetries. Through these processes, the long-wavelength asymmetries degrade TT yield more than the DT yield and thus bring DT/TT neutron yield ratios into agreement with experiment. Finally, we present a detailed comparison of the flows in 2D and 3D simulations.

Framed, 16-Image, Kirkpatrick-Baez Microscope for Laser-Plasma X-Ray Emission

A framed, 16-image, Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB)-type x-ray microscope has been designed for use in imaging laser–plasma x-ray emission. The reflecting elements are 16 pairs of concave mirrors arranged to reflect and focus x rays emanating from a laser-produced plasma. The resolution of the elements is 3 μm at best focus and is better than 5 μm within a 400-μm-diam region. A framing camera will be used in combination with the KB optic to produce 16 gated x-ray images in the energy range from 1.5 to 7 keV over a typical interval of 1.5 ns. This system is designed for use on the University of Rochester’s OMEGA laser facility [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt Commun. 133, 495 (1997)].

Detection of Charged Particles with Charge Injection Devices

A method for using charge injection devices (CIDs) for detection of high-energy charged particles from inertial-confinement fusion reactions is described. Because of the relatively small depletion region of the CID camera (depletion depth of approximately 7 mum), aluminum foils are placed in front of the device to reduce the energy of the charged particles and maximize the energy deposited in the CID. Simultaneous measurements of (2)H(d,p)(3)H protons with a CID and a surface barrier detector indicate that the CID is an efficient detector of charged fusion products. Tests using high energy alpha particles emitted from a radium-226 source are also reported.

Target imaging and backlighting diagnosis

The expected backlighting and self‐emission images of a particular CH target to be imploded on the Omega Upgrade are calculated for a variety of experimental parameters. It is shown that to overcome the problem of target self‐emission, the image has to be monochromatized with a diffracting crystal. For the target studied, the two image components are then comparable in intensity and both provide useful information on target behavior. A particularly interesting feature is the appearance in the self‐emission of a circular spike which closely delineates the fuel‐shell interface, but requires high spatial resolution to be observed.

Dual microchannel plate module for a gated monochromatic x-ray imager

Development and testing of a dual microchannel plate (MCP) module to be used in the national Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program has recently been completed. The MCP module is a key component of a new monochromatic x-ray imaging diagnostic which is designed around a 4 channel Kirkpatrick-Baez microscope and diffraction crystals and is located at University of Rochesters Omega laser system. The MCP module has two separate MCP regions with centers spaced 53 mm apart. Each region contains a 25 mm MCP proximity focused to a P-11 phosphor coated fiberoptic faceplate. The two L/D equals 40, MCPs have a 10.2 mm wide, 8 ohm stripline constructed of 500 nm copper over-coated with 100 nm gold. A 4 kV, 150 ps electrical pulse provides an optical gatewidth of 80 ps and spatial resolution has been measured at 20 lp/mm.