Concept for Increased Neutron Yield and Potential ICF Ignition at the NIF
Abstract
In recent experiments at the NIF, near-record neutron yields have been measured in modest convergence Polar Direct Drive (PDD) implosions of DT gas-filled capsules using only 55% to 75% of the available NIF laser energy. These experiments represent the highest efficiency conversion of NIF laser energy to thermonuclear fusion output demonstrated to date. We propose to increase the yield still further by including a liquid DT layer on the inner surface of a large PDD capsule. The use of PDD enables ~10X more energy absorbed by the capsule (compared to indirect drive), and the use of a DT liquid layer (rather than a DT ice layer) enables layered implosions with the reduced convergence required for adequate symmetry with PDD. In this talk, we will compare the PDD DT liquid layer approach to the indirect drive DT ice layer concept and present a preliminary ignition design that has a modest convergence with conservative implosion parameters.
Supported by LANL LDRD Project Number 20200765ER.- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020APS..DPPG09005O