Abstract
The dynamic-shell target is a new class of design for inertial confinement fusion (ICF). These targets address some of the target fabrication challenges prevalent in current ICF targets and take advantage of advances in manufacturing technologies. This study first examines how the dynamic-shell design can be used to control the density of the central region and therefore convergence ratio, thus expanding the design space for ICF. Additionally, the concern of low-mode perturbation growth is considered. A new class of high-performing beam configurations, based on icosahedral polyhedra and charged-particle simulations is proposed. These configurations achieve low levels of irradiation nonuniformity through selection of beam shapes that suppress the dominant symmetrical mode.
Highlights
A novel inertial confinement fusion (ICF) “dynamic-shell” target design was recently proposed by V
Complex pulse shapes such as those employed for the dynamic shell are incredibly challenging to model in indirectdrive [10, 11], so currently we limit the scope of the dynamic shell design to direct-drive only
Shell convergence ratio (CR) in a conventional design with a cryogenic DT shell is controlled mainly by the implosion velocity Vimp and shell adiabat α defined as the ratio of shell pressure to the Fermi pressure at shell density, α P/PF, CR ∼ V0im.7p/α0.3
Summary
A novel inertial confinement fusion (ICF) “dynamic-shell” target design was recently proposed by V. The standard approach in ICF aims to achieve gain by igniting a small portion of low density fuel in a central hot-spot, triggering a burn wave that will propagate through a surrounding, high-density fuel shell [2] Such targets are composed of a cryogenic, solid DT shell filled with DT gas at the equilibrium vapor pressure. In indirect-drive [9], the lasers are shone onto the inner surface of a high-Z casing (termed a hohlraum) creating a bath of X-rays which is used as a drive source Complex pulse shapes such as those employed for the dynamic shell are incredibly challenging to model in indirectdrive [10, 11], so currently we limit the scope of the dynamic shell design to direct-drive only. We summarize a study on potential laser beam configurations in order to minimize detrimental low-mode pressure perturbations
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