Hot spot mass ablation and enthalpy in ice-layered inertial fusion implosions
ORAL
Abstract
In layered implosions, most of the fuel in the central hot spot comes from mass ablation from the inner layer of DT ice. This ablation is associated with an enthalpy contribution to the hot spot energy that plays a key role in setting the conditions for thermonuclear ignition. A recent study of this problem indicates that prior studies of hot spot ignition have underestimated by a factor of 2-4 the rate of mass ablation, leading to a corresponding, systematic underestimate of the energy needed to ignite a hot spot [1]. In this presentation, an improved model of mass ablation will be shown that is in excellent agreement with radiation hydrodynamics simulations. Implications of the use of this improved model on setting the conditions for ignition will be discussed.
[1] W. Daughton et al., “Influence of mass ablation on ignition and burn propagation in layered fusion capsules,” https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00093 (submitted).
[1] W. Daughton et al., “Influence of mass ablation on ignition and burn propagation in layered fusion capsules,” https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00093 (submitted).
*This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Triad National Security, LLC, operator of the Los Alamos National Laboratory under Contract No. 89233218CNA000001.
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Publication: W. Daughton, B. J. Albright, S. M. Finnegan, J. L. Kline, B. M. Haines, J. P. Sauppe, and J. M. Smidt, "Influence of mass ablation on ignition and burn propagation in layered fusion capsules," submitted to Nature Communications and available on ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00093
Presenters
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Brian J Albright
- Los Alamos Natl Lab