Three dimensional low-mode areal-density non-uniformities in indirect-drive implosions at the National Ignition Facility

To achieve hotspot ignition, an inertial confinement fusion implosion must achieve high hotspot pressure that is inertially confined by a dense shell of DT fuel. This requires a symmetric implosion having high in-flight shell velocity and high areal density at stagnation. The size of the driver and scale of the capsule required can be minimized by maintaining a high efficiency of energy coupling from the imploding shell to the hotspot. Significant 3D low mode asymmetries, however, are commonly observed in indirect-drive implosions and reduce the coupling of shell kinetic energy to the hotspot. To better quantify the magnitudes and impacts of shell density asymmetries, we have developed new analysis techniques and analytic models [Hurricane et al., Phys. Plasmas 27(6), 062704 (2020)]. To build confidence in the underlying data, we have also developed an analytic neutron transport model to cross-compare two independent measurements of asymmetry, which shows excellent agreement across shots for mode-1 (l=1). This work also demonstrates that asymmetry can introduce potential sampling bias into down-scattered ratio measurements causing the solid-angle-average and uncertainty-weighted-average down-scattered ratios to differ significantly. Diagnosing asymmetries beyond mode-1 (l>1) presents significant challenges. Using new diagnostic instruments and analysis techniques, however, evidence of significant Legendre mode P2 (l=2, m=0) and additional 3D asymmetries (l>1, m not equal 0) are beginning to emerge from the high precision activation diagnostic data (real-time nuclear activation detectors) and down-scattered neutron imaging data.

Automated summary

To achieve hotspot ignition in inertial confinement fusion, high hotspot pressure must be achieved through a symmetric implosion with high in-flight shell velocity and high areal density. However, significant 3D low mode asymmetries commonly observed in indirect-drive implosions reduce the coupling of shell kinetic energy to the hotspot. New analysis techniques and models have been developed to quantify the magnitudes and impacts of shell density asymmetries, showing good agreement across measurements for mode-1 (l=1).