R. Florido

Comparison of genetic-algorithm and emissivity-ratio analyses of image data from OMEGA implosion cores.

Detailed analysis of x-ray narrow-band images from argon-doped deuterium-filled inertial confinement fusion implosion experiments yields information about the temperature spatial structure in the core at the collapse of the implosion. We discuss the analysis of direct-drive implosion experiments at OMEGA, in which multiple narrow-band images were recorded with a multimonochromatic x-ray imaging instrument. The temperature spatial structure is investigated by using the sensitivity of the Ly beta/He beta line emissivity ratio to the temperature. Three analysis methods that consider the argon He beta and Ly beta image data are discussed and the results compared. The methods are based on a ratio of image intensities, ratio of Abel-inverted emissivities, and a search and reconstruction technique driven by a Pareto genetic algorithm.

Investigation of a polychromatic tomography method for the extraction of the three-dimensional spatial structure of implosion core plasmas

A spectroscopic method has been developed to extract the three-dimentional spatial structure (i.e., spatial distribution of electron temperature and density) of inertial confinement fusion implosion cores based on the analysis of space-resolved spectra from a tracer element recorded along three quasi-orthogonal lines of sight. We discuss a spectral model that computes space-resolved spectra for a given spatial structure. This model is then combined with a multi-objective search and optimization technique driven by a Pareto genetic algorithm to perform the inversion and to extract the spatial structure of the implosion core from a simultaneous and self-consistent analysis of a set of space-resolved spectra. This method is investigated with a series of synthetic data test cases to explore its reliability, requirements, and limitations. We have found a constraint parameter Pconst such that the method is robust and the extracted spatial structure is reliable when Pconst> 1. The idea of polychromatic tomograph...

Processing of spectrally resolved x-ray images of inertial confinement fusion implosion cores recorded with multimonochromatic x-ray imagers

We discuss the processing of data recorded with multimonochromatic x-ray imagers (MMI) in inertial confinement fusion experiments. The MMI records hundreds of gated, spectrally resolved images that can be used to unravel the spatial structure of the implosion core. In particular, we present a new method to determine the centers in all the array of images, a better reconstruction technique of narrowband implosion core images, two algorithms to determine the shape and size of the implosion core volume based on reconstructed broadband images recorded along three-quasiorthogonal lines of sight, and the removal of artifacts from the space-integrated spectra.

Direct asymmetry measurement of temperature and density spatial distributions in inertial confinement fusion plasmas from pinhole space-resolved spectra

Two-dimensional space-resolved temperature and density images of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosion core have been diagnosed for the first time. Argon-doped, direct-drive ICF experiments were performed at the Omega Laser Facility and a collection of two-dimensional space-resolved spectra were obtained from an array of gated, spectrally resolved pinhole images recorded by a multi-monochromatic x-ray imager. Detailed spectral analysis revealed asymmetries of the core not just in shape and size but in the temperature and density spatial distributions, thus characterizing the core with an unprecedented level of detail.

Analysis of time-resolved argon line spectra from OMEGA direct-drive implosions.

We discuss the observation and data analysis of argon K-shell line spectra from argon-doped deuterium-filled OMEGA direct-drive implosion cores based on data recorded with two streaked crystal spectrometers. The targets were 870 microm in diameter, 27 microm wall thickness plastic shells filled with 20 atm of deuterium gas, and a tracer amount of argon for diagnostic purposes. The argon K-shell line spectrum is primarily emitted at the collapse of the implosion and its analysis provides a spectroscopic diagnostic of the core implosion conditions. The observed spectra includes the He alpha, Ly alpha, He beta, He gamma, Ly beta, and Ly gamma line emissions and their associated He- and Li-like satellites thus covering a broad photon energy range from 3100 to 4200 eV with a spectral resolution power of approximately 500. The data analysis relies on detailed atomic and spectral models that take into account nonequilibrium collisional-radiative atomic kinetics, Stark-broadened line shapes, and radiation transport calculations.

Spectroscopic modeling of an argon-doped shock-ignition implosion.

We present results from the spectral postprocessing of a one-dimensional hydrodynamic simulation of an argon-doped, warm-shell shock-ignition implosion with a detailed atomic and radiation physics model. The argon tracer is added to the deuterium filling in the core for diagnostic purposes. Spectral features in the emergent intensity distribution in the photon energy range of the argon K-shell spectrum that have potential for diagnostic application are discussed.

Time-resolved characterization and energy balance analysis of implosion core in shock-ignition experiments at OMEGA

Time-resolved temperature and density conditions in the core of shock-ignition implosions have been determined for the first time. The diagnostic method relies on the observation, with a streaked crystal spectrometer, of the signature of an Ar tracer added to the deuterium gas fill. The data analysis confirms the importance of the shell attenuation effect previously noted on time-integrated spectroscopic measurements of thick-wall targets [R. Florido et al., Phys. Rev. E 83, 066408 (2011)]. This effect must be taken into account in order to obtain reliable results. The extracted temperature and density time-histories are representative of the state of the core during the implosion deceleration and burning phases. As a consequence of the ignitor shock launched by the sharp intensity spike at the end of the laser pulse, observed average core electron temperature and mass density reach T ∼ 1100 eV and ρ ∼ 2 g/cm3; then temperature drops to T ∼ 920 eV while density rises to ρ ∼ 3.4 g/cm3 about the time of pea...

Understanding reliability and some limitations of the images and spectra reconstructed from a multi-monochromatic x-ray imager

Temperature and density asymmetry diagnosis is critical to advance inertial confinement fusion (ICF) science. A multi-monochromatic x-ray imager (MMI) is an attractive diagnostic for this purpose. The MMI records the spectral signature from an ICF implosion core with time resolution, 2-D space resolution, and spectral resolution. While narrow-band images and 2-D space-resolved spectra from the MMI data constrain temperature and density spatial structure of the core, the accuracy of the images and spectra depends not only on the quality of the MMI data but also on the reliability of the post-processing tools. Here, we synthetically quantify the accuracy of images and spectra reconstructed from MMI data. Errors in the reconstructed images are less than a few percent when the space-resolution effect is applied to the modeled images. The errors in the reconstructed 2-D space-resolved spectra are also less than a few percent except those for the peripheral regions. Spectra reconstructed for the peripheral regions have slightly but systematically lower intensities by ∼6% due to the instrumental spatial-resolution effects. However, this does not alter the relative line ratios and widths and thus does not affect the temperature and density diagnostics. We also investigate the impact of the pinhole size variation on the extracted images and spectra. A 10% pinhole size variation could introduce spatial bias to the images and spectra of ∼10%. A correction algorithm is developed, and it successfully reduces the errors to a few percent. It is desirable to perform similar synthetic investigations to fully understand the reliability and limitations of each MMI application.

Radiative cooling of two-component wire-array Z-pinch plasma

Wire-array two-component Z-pinch plasmas containing Al and other elements were studied experimentally and the observations interpreted with the help of theoretical modeling. Special attention was given to achieving reproducible implosions. Cascading implosions in star wire arrays mix components during the implosion phase and implosion dynamics were not affected by changes in concentration. A reduction in Al K-shell radiation and an increase in soft x-ray radiation emission were observed in Al-W plasma with 84% concentration of Al ions compared to only-Al plasma. Plasma with 84% of Al ions has radiative properties like those of W Z-pinches. The analysis of Al K-shell x-ray spectra with a collisional-radiative atomic kinetics model shows a drop of the electron temperature from 400 eV in pure Al plasma to below 300 eV in the Al-W mix. Al-Au Z-pinches present radiation features similar to Al-W plasma. This is indicative of a similar plasma cooling effect due to the presence of a high-Z element.