The NIF: An international high energy density science and inertial fusion user facility

Abstract

Abstract. The National Ignition Facility (NIF), a 1.8-MJ/500-TW Nd:Glass laser facility designed to study inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and high-energy-density science (HEDS), is operational at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). A primary goal of NIF is to create the conditions necessary to demonstrate laboratory-scale thermonuclear ignition and burn. NIF experiments in support of indirect-drive ignition began late in FY2009 as part of the National Ignition Campaign (NIC), an international effort to achieve fusion ignition in the laboratory. To date, all of the capabilities to conduct implosion experiments are in place with the goal of demonstrating ignition and developing a predictable fusion experimental platform in 2012. The results from experiments completed are encouraging for the near-term achievement of ignition. Capsule implosion experiments at energies up to 1.6 MJ have demonstrated laser energetics, radiation temperatures, and symmetry control that scale to ignition conditions. Of particular importance is the demonstration of peak hohlraum temperatures near 300 eV with overall backscatter less than 15%. Important national security and basic science experiments have also been conducted on NIF. Successful demonstration of ignition and net energy gain on NIF will be a major step towards demonstrating the feasibility of laser-driven Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE). This paper will describe the results achieved so far on the path toward ignition, the beginning of fundamental science experiments and the plans to transition NIF to an international user facility providing access to HEDS and fusion energy researchers around the world.

Development of the PETAL Laser Facility and its Diagnostic Tools

“…study of shocks to simulate violent events in the Universe such as supernovae, accretion disks), planetary physics (highly compressed and warm matter), stellar interiors with large coupling between radiation field and matter and nuclear physics. Overviews of the physics programme at LMJ and NIF may be found in [16,20].…”

Polar drive on OMEGA

“…Simulated backlit images of the compressing core are in good agreement with measured images. Outstanding questions that will be addressed in the future relate to the role of cross-beam transfer in polar drive irradiation and increasing the energy coupled into the target by decreasing beam obliquity.Polar drive (PD) [1, 2] enables one to conduct direct-drive experiments while the National Ignition Facility (NIF [3]) is in the x-ray-drive configuration. To achieve nearly symmetric illumination in the absence of beam ports at the equator, higher-latitude beams are repointed toward the equator, compensating for reduced drive.…”

“…Polar drive (PD) [1, 2] enables one to conduct direct-drive experiments while the National Ignition Facility (NIF [3]) is in the x-ray-drive configuration. To achieve nearly symmetric illumination in the absence of beam ports at the equator, higher-latitude beams are repointed toward the equator, compensating for reduced drive.…”