Enhanced Direct-Drive Implosions with Thin High-Z Ablation Layers

Abstract

New direct-drive spherical implosion experiments with deuterium filled plastic shells have demonstrated significant and absolute (2x) improvements in neutron yield when the shells are coated with a very thin layer (~200-400 Angstron) of high-Z material such as palladium. This improvement is interpreted as resulting from increased stability of the imploding shell. These results provide for a possible path to control laser imprint and stability in laser-fusion-energy target designs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA480967

Entities

People

  • Andrew J. Schmitt
  • Andrew N. Mostovych
  • D. Colombant
  • James L. Weaver
  • James P. Krauer
  • Max Karasik

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ablation
  • Bandwidth
  • Deuterium
  • High Pressure
  • Implosions
  • Instability
  • Laser Pulses
  • Laser Targets
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Palladium
  • Radiation
  • Short Wavelengths
  • Simulations
  • Stagnation Pressure
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

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  • Thin Film Deposition Science.
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Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Pulsed-Laser Deposition