Motivation and expectations for 2.2 MJ 440 TW implosions at the NIF

ORAL

Abstract

The NIF implosion experiment N221204 produced more than 3 MJ of fusion yield and surpassed unity target gain for the first time. Key contributors to its improved performance were using higher laser energy and a thicker capsule ablator. 1D and 2D HYDRA modeling show still further performance improvement by moving to +0.15 MJ laser energy and +10 um thicker HDC capsule, relative to N221204. This improvement is evidenced by increased EP2, yield, and increased robustness to a given level of degradation. The degradations investigated include hydrodynamic instabilities, low-mode shape asymmetry, and high-Z impurity mixing into the fusing plasma. Facility upgrades have been performed to enhance laser delivery to 2.2 MJ 440 TW, with plans for additional increases in energy and power in following years. An experimental campaign has been developed for FY24 which exploits this new capability and explores the parameter space of improved, igniting plasmas. First demonstration at 2.2 MJ 440 TW is scheduled for September 2023.

*Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by LLNS, LLC, under Contract No. DE-AC52-07NA27344. LLNL-ABS-851405

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Presenters

  • David Schlossberg

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Authors

  • David Schlossberg

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Andrea Kritcher

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Alex Zylstra

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Arthur E Pak

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Benjamin Bachmann

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Daniel T Casey

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Alison Christopherson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Lab
    • LLNL
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Eduard L Dewald

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jean-Michel Di Nicola

    • Lawrence Livermore National Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Laurent Divol

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • LLNL
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Tilo Doeppner

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Matthias Hohenberger

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Kelli D Humbird

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Omar Hurricane

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Otto L Landen

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Lab

  • Joseph E Ralph

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Michael Stadermann

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • LLNL

  • Chris R Weber

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Christopher V Young

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory