Neutron emission from light-gas gun projectile driven targets

Projectile fusion concept represents a promising avenue for achieving ignition and a significant fusion yield. As a part of the fusion targets development program, First Light Fusion (FLF) uses two-stage light gas to accelerate projectiles up to 6.5 km/s. The initial drive pressure which is in order of 100 GPa is amplified to compress a capsule with DD or DT gas mixture to densities and temperatures relevant to achieve fusion. The target design is a key aspect in FLF approach and is optimized using codes developed at FLF [https://firstlightfusion.com/assets/uploads/images/First-Light-Fusion-Nevarro-modelling-white-paper.pdf]

A variety of targets was shot successfully, resulting in detection of fusion neutrons [https://firstlightfusion.com/assets/uploads/images/first_light_fusion_experimental_white_paper.pdf]. We demonstrated repeatable coincident detection of neutrons on multiple scintillator detectors at different distances from the target, i.e. recorded time-of-flight data are consistent with the propagation of DD and DT fusion neutrons. Moreover, He-3 detectors provided additional evidence that neutrons are produced by the hypervelocity projectile impacting a target containing DD or DT gas. The results qualitatively agree with the synthetic detector modelling carried out by using the code MCNP.

This contribution will present details of recent FLF experimental fusion activities.