Design and implementation of high magnification framing camera for NIF "ARIANE Light"

Abstract

Gated X-Ray imagers have been used on many ICF experiments around the world for time resolved imaging of the target implosions. ARIANE (Active Readout In A Neutron Environment) has been developed for use in the National Ignition Facility and has been deployed in multiple phases. Phase 1 (complete) known as ARIANE Ultra Light (Alignment proof of concept), Phase 2a known as ARIANE Light (complete) (X-ray gated detector with electronic recording), Phase 2b (complete) (X-ray gated detector with film recording) and Phase 3 known as ARIANE Heavy which is currently under development. The ARIANE diagnostic is comprised of the following subsystems: pinhole imaging system, filtering, detector head, detector head electronics, control electronics, CCD, and film recording systems. The phased approach allows incremental increases in tolerance to neutron yield. Phase 2a and 2b have been fielded successfully and captured gated implosion images on CCD and film at neutron yields up to 7 x 10¹⁴. As the yields in the NIF increase Phase 3 will be a longer term solution incorporating an indirect optical path, hardened advanced detectors and significant (tons) of shielding. Design and Initial commissioning data for Phase 1-2b are presented here.