High Pressure Tritium Fill System for the Omega Upgrade ICF Laser

Abstract

We describe a high pressure cryogenic fill station and a novel method to retrieve and transport filled inertial confinement fusion targets at cryogenic temperatures. The fill station (currently under construction) will be capable of filling millimeter-size plastic spheres with DT or D2 to pressures exceeding 150 MPa. After filling, the thin-walled targets are cooled and kept below 20 K to prevent them from bursting. After cooling the targets, a cryogenic wrench is used to open the pressurization cell. The fill station cryostat is designed to allow a second cryostat to retrieve the filled targets. This second cold transfer cryostat features removable shrouds with seals that can be repeatably made and broken at cryogenic temperatures.