Initial Polar-Drive Implosions on the NIF

The polar drive (PD) concept\footnote{S. Skupsky\textit{ et al.}, Phys. Plasmas \textbf{11}, 2763 (2004).} for inertial confinement fusion is the only near-term alternative to indirect-drive ignition on the National Ignition Facility (NIF).\footnote{S. W. Haan\textit{ et al.}, Phys. Plasmas \textbf{18}, 051001 (2011).} It requires that the NIF beams be pointed toward the equator of a direct-drive capsule and that direct-drive--specific beam smoothing be installed. The first ignition-relevant PD implosions have been performed on the NIF. While the direct-drive specific beam smoothing is not yet available, these experiments test many aspects of implosion physics at ignition-relevant energies and scale lengths. This talk reports on results from these initial experiments including initial estimates of the effects of laser--plasma instabilities and the levels of hot-electron generation caused by the two-plasmon$-$decay instability. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.