Ignition tuning for the National Ignition Campaign

Abstract

Abstract. The overall goal of the indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion [1] tuning campaigns [2] is to maximize the probability of ignition by experimentally correcting for likely residual uncertainties in the implosion and hohlraum physics [3] used in our radiation-hydrodynamic computational models, and by checking for and resolving unexpected shot-to-shot variability in performance [4]. This has been started successfully using a variety of surrogate capsules that set key laser, hohlraum and capsule parameters to maximize ignition capsule implosion velocity, while minimizing fuel adiabat, core shape asymmetry and ablator-fuel mix.

Review of the National Ignition Campaign 2009-2012

“…Tuning requirements for each of the implosion optimization platforms are defined so that implosions meeting these requirements would meet the calculated ITF specifications set for the point design. A summary of those requirements and the precisions (shot-to-shot uncertainty in measurement) and accuracies (absolute error in measurement) that have been achieved 98 is given in Table I and is discussed in more detail in the review of the experiments below.…”