Progress in Fast Ignitor Research with the Nova Petawatt Laser Facility,
Abstract
The physics of fast ignition is being studied using a petawatt laser facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Performance of the PW laser with deformable mirror wavefront control giving intensities up to 3x10(exp 20) W/cm2 is described. Measurements of the efficiency of conversion of laser energy to relativistic electrons and of their energy spectrum and angular distribution including an observed narrow beam angle of +/- 15 deg, are reported. Heating by the electrons to near 1keV in solid density CD2 is inferred from the thermo-nuclear neutron yield. Estimates suggest an optimized gain of 300x if the National Ignition Facility were to be adapted for fast ignition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 10, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA362957
Entities
People
- B. A. Hammel
- E. A. Henry
- M. H. Key
- S. P. Hatchett
- T. E. Cowan
Organizations
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory