Optimization of Azimuthal Uniformity in NIF Polar-Drive Implosions

ORAL

Abstract

The primary method for optimizing polar-drive experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is beam repointing in the polar direction, leading to designs that are uniform in two-dimensional, azimuthally symmetric hydrodynamic simulations. However, in some cases, azimuthal variations in the deposited energy can affect the implosion uniformity and may be observable in self-emission images. Azimuthal uniformity has been investigated using the hydrodynamics code \textit{SAGE},\footnote{R. S. Craxton and R. L. McCrory, J. Appl. Phys. \textbf{56}, 108 (1984).} which includes three-dimensional ray tracing. Optimal azimuthal adjustments to the beam pointings have been developed for the ongoing LLE polar-drive campaign\footnote{P. B. Radha\textit{ et al.}, Phys. Plasmas \textbf{20}, 056306 (2013).} on the NIF. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

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Authors

  • R.S. Craxton

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • P.B. Radha

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • A.K. Davis

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • D.H. Froula

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • M. Hohenberger

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • P.W. McKenty

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • D.T. Michel

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • P.A. Olson

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • T.C. Sangster

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • S. Le Pape

    • LLNL

  • T. Ma

    • LLNL

  • A.J. MacKinnon

    • LLNL