The National Ignition Facility Enhanced Yield Capability

ORAL

Abstract

Since its completion in 2009 [1], the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has played a vital role in supporting the NNSA's Stockpile Stewardship mission by generating invaluable experimental data in the high-energy-density regime [2]. Notably, in a groundbreaking achievement [3], the NIF conducted the world's first controlled fusion experiment to achieve scientific energy breakeven, marking a significant milestone in scientific history. Recent engineering studies have revealed that the NIF has yet to reach its maximum capabilities. Minor facility upgrades have the potential to further boost the laser energy. Encouragingly, scaling studies benchmarked to recent ignition experiments suggest that these enhancements would significantly increase fusion yields. Given the remarkable results of the NIF's ignition experiments, investing in these upgrades would not only expand support for the evolving mission needs of the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) but also enable the NIF to realize its full potential. In this work, we will outline our preliminary plans to upgrade the NIF to its full potential.

*This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

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Publication: [1] E. I. Moses, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 112, 012003 (2008).
[2] Hurricane, O. A. and M. C. Herrmann, Annu. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 67(1): 213-230, (2017).
[3] H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 065102 (2024)

Presenters

  • Dayne E Fratanduono

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Authors

  • Dayne E Fratanduono

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Gordon Brunton

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Tom D Chapman

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Ginevra E Cochran

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Denise E Hinkel

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • LLNL

  • Annie L Kritcher

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jean-Michel Di Nicola

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jeff Horner

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Steve A MacLaren

    • LLNL
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jose Luis Milovich

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Ryan C Nora

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Paul F Schmit

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Tayyab Suratwala

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Bruno Van Wonterghem

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Chris R Weber

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab