Z-pinch Dynamic Hohlraum Research Articles

Investigation on the scaling of magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor instability to the current rise time of Z-pinch plasmas

Understanding how the magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor instability (MRTI) scales to the current rise time is vital for Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum driven inertial confinement fusion. Wang et al discovered in prior theoretical work that the perturbation amplitude of MRTI before stagnation increases linearly with the current rise time when the implosion velocity of Z-pinch plasma is held constant. In the present work, three types of wire-array experiments with similar implosion dynamics and constant implosion velocity are performed on an 8 MA pulse power generator to investigate the scaling of MRTI to the rise time. It is successfully accomplished for the first time to obtain the similar wire-array Z-pinch implosions in which the current rise time is scaled up to three times on the generator by controlling the trigger time of its 24 modules. Both the experimental results, which include x-ray radiation pulses and x-ray images of imploding plasmas, and the related numerical analysis have shown that the MRTI before stagnation grows linearly with the rise time, as predicted by the theoretical model.

Role of Simple Spatial Gradient in Reinforcing the Accuracy of Temperature Determination of HED Plasma via Spectral Line-Area Ratios

We report on the simulation of temperature gradients in tamped NaFMgO target-foil plasma, heated and backlit by z-pinch dynamic hohlraum radiation. Our approach compares the spectroscopic output of a collisional-radiative model (prismspect) with soft X-ray absorption spectra collected on Sandia National Laboratories’ (SNL) Z Pulsed Power Facility. The pattern of minimum χ2 is seen to agree with an efficient, three-parameter model. Results show that a negligible gradient in electron temperature Te is consistent with experimental data, justifying the assumptions of previous work. The predicted sensitivity of line spectra to the gradient-aligned profile of Te is documented for each spectral feature, so that the line-area ratio between a pair of spectral features may be assessed as a proxy for the existence and quantification of such gradients.

Establishing an isoelectronic line ratio temperature diagnostic for soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy

For diagnosing temperatures of high-energy-density plasmas, relying on the ratio of a pair of isoelectronic spectral lines provides the alternative of “matched charge-state transits in different elements” to the more conventional, “unmatched charge-state transits in the same-element” spectral-line-ratio technique. In contrast to a novel previous establishment of isoelectronic emission-line ratio determination of plasma temperature, this report determines plasma temperature from the ratio of isoelectronic absorption spectral line pairs. The feasibility of this technique is assessed from experimentally acquired transmission spectra, spanning the 7–15 Å range, through a 0.4μm MgO-NaF foil, tamped with CH, x-ray-radiation heated by a z-pinch dynamic hohlraum (ZPDH), and backlit by the brief X-ray burst upon imploding-wire stagnation on the Z pulsed-power facility at Sandia National Laboratories. As expected from the slight difference between interstage and isoelectronic absorption processes, a quantitative comparison between the value of isoelectronic-absorption-derived temperature and the value of inter-stage-absorption-derived temperature is shown to yield a well correlated, slight difference in inferred values of plasma temperature associated with local thermodynamic equilibrium.

Numerical performance assessment of double-shell targets for Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum

A Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum can create the high-temperature radiation field required by indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion. A dynamic hohlraum with peak radiation temperature over 300 eV can be obtained with a >50 MA Z-pinch driver according to the scaling law of dynamic hohlraum radiation temperature vs drive current. Based on a uniform 300 eV radiation temperature profile with a width of 10 ns, three double-shell capsules with radii of 2, 2.5, and 3 mm are proposed, and the corresponding fusion yields from a one-dimensional calculation are 28.8, 56.1, and 101.6 MJ. The implosion dynamics of the 2.5 mm-radius capsule is investigated in detail. At ignition, the areal density of the fuel is about 0.53 g/cm2, the fuel pressure is about 80 Gbar, and the central ion temperature is about 4.5 keV, according to the one-dimensional simulation. A two-dimensional simulation indicates that the double-shell capsule can implode nearly spherically when driven by the radiation field of a Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum. The sensitivities of the fusion performance to the radiation temperature profiles and to deviations in the capsule parameter are investigated through one-dimensional simulation, and it is found that the capsule fusion yields are rather stable in a quite large parameter space. A one-dimensional simulation of a capsule embedded in 50 mg/cm3 CH foam indicates that the capsule performance does not change greatly in the mimicked environment of a Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum. The double-shell capsules designed here are also applicable to laser indirect-drive inertial fusion, if a laser facility can produce a uniform 300 eV radiation field and sustain it for about 10 ns.

Development and integration of photonic Doppler velocimetry as a diagnostic for radiation driven experiments on the Z-machine.

Plasma density measurements are key to a wide variety of high-energy-density (HED) and laboratory astrophysics experiments. We present a creative application of photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV) from which time- and spatially resolved electron density measurements can be made. PDV has been implemented for the first time in close proximity, ∼6 cm, to the high-intensity radiation flux produced by a z-pinch dynamic hohlraum on the Z-machine. Multiple PDV probes were incorporated into the photoionized gas cell platform. Two probes, spaced 4 mm apart, were used to assess plasma density and uniformity in the central region of the gas cell during the formation of the plasma. Electron density time histories with subnanosecond resolution were extracted from PDV measurements taken from the gas cells fielded with neon at 15 Torr. As well, a null shot with no gas fill in the cell was fielded. A major achievement was the low noise high-quality measurements made in the harsh environment produced by the mega-joules of x-ray energy emitted at the collapse of the z-pinch implosion. To evaluate time dependent radiation induced effects in the fiber optic system, two PDV noise probes were included on either side of the gas cell. The success of this alternative use of PDV demonstrates that it is a reliable, precise, and affordable new electron density diagnostic for radiation driven experiments and more generally HED experiments.

Progress of Z-Pinch Dynamic Hohlraum Experiments on 8-MA Facility

Progress of Z-Pinch Dynamic Hohlraum Experiments on 8-MA Facility

Analytical physical models for cryogenic double-shell capsule design driven by Z-pinch dynamic Hohlraum

The Z-pinch dynamic Hohlraum (ZPDH) is a promising indirect-drive approach for inertial confinement fusion. The volume ignition capsule is more robust than the hot-spot ignition capsule for ZPDH due to the fact that the ZPDH radiation drive source has a high energy but low symmetry. Focusing on the ignition design of cryogenic double-shell volume ignition capsules using ZPDH radiation sources, three analytical physical models, including the ablation and implosion model, the shell collision model, and the burn fraction model, are established to quantitatively characterize the relation of capsule parameters. Robust capsule designs are then determined based on these analytical models together with 1D radiation hydrodynamics simulations. The results show that under the 10 ns, 308 eV radiation drive source produced by ZPDH with 50 MA load current, capsules with a large range of parameters can ignite. The fusion yield of the recommended capsule is 16.0 MJ, and the absorbed energy is 1.28 MJ.

Scaling of rise time of drive current on development of magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities for single-shell Z-pinches

In fast Z-pinches, rise time of drive current plays an important role in development of magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor(MRT) instabilities. It is essential for applications of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum (ZPDH), which could be used for drivinginertial confinement fusion (ICF), to understand the scaling of rise time on MRTs. Therefore, a theoretical model for nonlinear development of MRTs is developed according to the numerical analysis. It is found from the model that the implosion distance L = r 0 – r mc determines the development of MRTs, where r 0 is the initial radius and r mc is the position of the accelerating shell. The current rise time τ would affect the MRT development because of its strong coupling with the r 0. The amplitude of MRTs would increase with the rise time linearly if an implosion velocity is specified. The effects of the rise time on MRT, in addition, are studied by numerical simulation. The results are consistent with those of the theoretical model very well. Finally, the scaling of the rise time on amplitude of MRTs is obtained for a specified implosion velocity by the theoretical model and numerical simulations.

Estimates of upper limit of neutron yield in experiments with Z-pinch dynamic hohlraums at 8-MA pulsed power facility

In ongoing attempts to generate thermonuclear neutrons with the Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum concept at an 8-MA pulsed power facility, it has become possible to determine an upper limit for the neutron yield. The neutron time-of-flight diagnostic uses thick Pb shields and a specifically formulated fast liquid scintillator coupled to gated photomultiplier tubes to mitigate the hard bremsstrahlung x-ray (HXR) background that would otherwise overwhelm a potential neutron signal, and its suppression gives an upper-limit estimation for the neutron yield. A slow-neutron detector in the form of a BF3 counting system suggests a lower limit to the neutron yield although the early HXR pulse interference requires further confirmation as to whether the subsequent multiple pulses are induced by neutrons. Together, these measurements suggest a neutron-yield upper limit of 1.1×107.

Simulations on the multi-shell target ignition driven by radiation pulse in Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum* *Project supported by the Science Challenge Project (Grant No. TZ2018001), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. XDA25051200 and XDA25050200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11705282 and 11775305), and Hunan Graduate Scientific Research Innovation Project (Grant

We present the first simulation results of a multi-shell target ignition driven by Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum radiation pulse. The radiation pulse is produced with a special Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum configuration, where the hohlraum is composed of a single metal liner, a low-Z plastic foam, and a high-Z metallic foam. The implosion dynamics of a hohlraum and a multi-shell target are investigated separately by the one-dimensional code MULTI-IFE. When the peak drive current is 50 MA, simulations suggest that an x-ray pulse with nearly constant radiation temperature (∼ 310 eV) and a duration about 9 ns can be obtained. A small multi-shell target with a radius of 1.35 mm driven by this radiation pulse is able to achieve volumetric ignition with an energy gain (G) about 6.19, where G is the ratio of the yield to the absorbed radiation. Through this research, we better understand the effects of non-uniformities and hydrodynamics instabilities in Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum.

Investigation on the main characteristics of dynamic hohlraum formation at the Julong-1 facility

Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum experiments have been carried out at the Julong-1 facility by imploding a nested tungsten wire array, which is configured with 20/10 mm diameter and 168/84 wires of 6.0 μm in diameter for the outer/inner array, onto a 10 mg/cc C15H20O6 foam converter with a radius of 2.3 mm. Detailed processes of shock formation, propagation, and radiation transfer of dynamic hohlraum were experimentally observed using an on-axis x-ray imaging system with simultaneous dual spectral channels. When the wire array plasma impacts onto the foam converter, thermalization of kinetic energy at the interaction zone generates a shock that propagates inward. The energy dissipated by imploding plasmas increases gradually, resulting in the strengthening of shock wave and finally the formation of the main radiating shock. During the propagating period of radiating shock, thermal radiation gradually transfers into the inner region, and a uniform hohlraum is produced when the main shock arrives at a radius of 0.8 mm in the experiments at the Julong-1 facility. The experimental results first describe the physics of about 100 eV hohlraum formations and may extend our understanding of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraums for future inertial confinement fusion applications.

Comparisons of total energy and peak power diagnostics for low-radiation-temperature soft x-ray source at an 8-MA facility

Routine diagnostics of total x-ray energy and peak power at an 8-MA pulsed-power generator in China will be described, together with calibrations. Successfully measurements with those diagnostics in Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum at low radiation temperature of 0∼ 7 eV were provided. Also presented are results from a flat response x-ray diode (XRD) for comparison. It is found that, in such an application, total x-ray energy from free-standing (FS) bolometer agrees well with that by scintillant power meter (SPM), but twice higher than that by XRD. This discrepancy lies in low spectral sensitivity of the flat response XRD and diffraction effect of pinhole array at low energy, confirmed by calculation and calibration. X-ray peak power from SPM agrees with that from XRD and diamond photo-conducting detector (PCD) within 10% and 20% deviation, respectively. We suggest that the SPM would be the preferred choice for both measurements for diagnosing low-radiation-temperature x-ray source.

Pulsed Power as a Science: Predictive Simulations for Beams, Z-Pinches, and Other Applications

This article is based on my plenary presentation that was associated with my Peter Haas Award, where I overview my 40 years of research and the people with whom I have had the pleasure of working, both domestically and internationally. In 1978, Sandia’s electron beam fusion program emerged from a weapons simulator community that was machine oriented and relied on design principles and J. Charlie Martin (JCM) criteria. The simulation tools were primarily used retrospectively. Fusions’ extraordinary requirements stimulated tremendous innovation in pulsed power, beams, pinches, and simulation tools. I started by developing ion beam deposition and transport models that were integrated into radiation-hydrodynamics codes; validated by experiments on Gamble II and Proto I; and helped initiate Sandia’s light-ion-beam fusion program. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program research led to the development of the Integrated Tiger Series (ITS) suite of electron–photon Monte Carlo codes (1985). A research on Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator I (PBFA-I) and PBFA-II on generating, transporting, and focusing ion beams required developing transport, diagnostic simulation, and analysis tools, which were used in focusing protons to 5 TW/cm2 (1991) and lithium beams to 2 TW/cm2 and heating hohlraums to 65 eV (1996). They also helped identify anode plasma formation by electron heating as the source of diode impedance collapse leading to efforts to include electron–electrode interaction models into particle-in-cell (PIC) codes and initiating hybrid fluid-PIC development (IPROP, LSP). Electrode physics remains a power flow grand challenge for high-yield fusion. In 1999, I led rad-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) development [arbitrary-Lagrangian–Eulerian general research applications high-energy-density physics (ALEGRA-HEDP)] and oversaw equation of state (EOS) and conductivity model development using quantum molecular dynamics/density function theory (QMD/DFT), resulting in predictive capabilities for dynamic material experiments. Improved z-pinch dynamic hohlraum modeling and experiments resulted in thermonuclear neutrons (2004). 3-D wire array dynamics were modeled and understood. We developed advanced radiographic sources and built a linear transformer driver (LTD) test bed. At the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), I have overseen advances in modeling and experiments in beams, pinches, pulsed power, and their applications (2009-). My goal throughout has been to develop and validate predictive simulation tools, making pulsed power a Science.

Time resolved temperature diagnosis in dynamic hohlraum experiments on JULONG-I facility

Axial radiation properties of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum have been investigated experimentally on JULONG-I facility in China. A new method of time resolved temperature diagnostics in dynamic hohlraum experiments has been developed via a one-dimensional (1-D) imaging system consisting of a streak camera. With the help of the axial radiation power profile measured by an X-ray power measurement system using the same type of scintillator as in the 1-D imaging system, time resolved temperature distribution along the one-dimensional space in dynamic hohlraum experiments are extracted by a special mathematical transform process of the image. The peak radiation temperature in the centre is more than 100 eV. The radiation temperatures are also estimated by the 1-D Multi-IFE-Z program.

Numerical studies on the radiation uniformity of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum

Radiation uniformity is important for Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum driven fusion. In order to understand the radiation uniformity of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum, the code MULTI-2D with a new developed magnetic field package is employed to investigate the related physical processes on Julong-I facility with drive current about 7–8 MA. Numerical simulations suggest that Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum with radiation temperature more than 100 eV can be created on Julong-I facility. Although some X-rays can escape out of the hohlraum from Z-pinch plasma and electrodes, the radiation field near the foam center is quite uniform after a transition time. For the load parameters used in this paper, the transition time for the thermal wave transports from r = 1 mm to r = 0 mm is about 2.0 ns. Implosion of a testing pellet driven by cylindrical dynamic hohlraum shows that symmetrical implosion is hard to achieve due to the relatively slow propagation speed of thermal wave and the compression of cylindrical shock in the foam. With the help of quasi-spherical implosion, the hohlraum radiation uniformity and corresponding pellet implosion symmetry can be significantly improved thanks to the shape modulation of thermal wave front and shock wave front.

Measurement of axial radiation properties in Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum at Julong-1

Axial radiation properties in Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum is investigated experimentally for the first time at Julong-1 facility in China, employing a load that contains a cylindrical CHO foam placed at the central axis position of the nested tungsten wire array. Time-resolved axially radiating images indicate that the velocity of the radiating shock is 31.9 ± 5.6 cm/μs in shot 0181. At t = −6.5 ns with respect to the peak of radially radiated power at stagnation, the annular width is estimated to be ∼1 mm and the intensities distribution in the shock implies a good azimuthal symmetry of radiation pressure. Axial power is found to peak prior to the arrival of the shock to the axis, which is explained by the balance between shock heating and radiating cooling. Utilizing the end-on radiation images and axial power, the peak radiation temperature in dynamic hohlraum is obtained to be ∼65 eV.

One-dimensional numerical investigation on the formation of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum using the code MULTI

Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum can effectively convert Z-pinch plasma kinetic energy into radiation field energy, which has a potential to implode a pellet filled with deuterium-tritium fuel to fusion conditions when the drive current is sufficiently large. To understand the formation process of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum on JULONG-I facility with a typical drive current of 8-10 MA, a new radiation magneto-hydrodynamics code is developed based on the program MULTI-IFE. MULTI-IFE is a one-dimensional, two-temperature, multi-group, open-source radiation hydrodynamic code, which is initially designed for laser and heavy ion driven fusion. The original program is upgraded to simulate Z-pinch related experiments by introducing Lorentz force, Joule heating and the evolution of magnetic field into the code. Numerical results suggest that a shock wave and a thermal wave will be launched when the high speed plasma impacts onto the foam converter. The thermal wave propagates much faster than shock wave, making the foam become hot prior to the arrival of shock wave. For the load parameters and drive current of shot 0180, the calculated propagation speed of thermal wave and shock wave are about 36.1 cm/s and 17.6 cm/s, respectively. The shock wave will be reflected when it arrives at the foam center and the speed of reflected shock wave is about 12.9 cm/s. Calculations also indicate that the plastic foam will expand obviously due to the high temperature radiation environment (~30 eV) around it before the collision between tungsten plasma and foam converter. The evolution of radial radiation temperature profile shows that a pair of bright strips pointing to the foam center can be observed by an on-axis streak camera and the radiation temperature in the foam center achieves its highest value when the shock arrives at the axis. A bright emission ring moving towards the foam center can also be observed by an on-axis X-ray frame camera. The best time to capture the bright strips and bright emission rings is before the thermal wave reaches the foam center. Even though some amount of X-ray radiation in the foam is expected to escape from the hohlraum via radiation transport process, simulation results suggest that the tungsten plasma can serve as a good hohlraum wall. The radiation temperature is about 80 eV when the dynamic hohlraum is created and can rise more than 100 eV before the shock arrives at the foam center. Most of the X-rays emitted by the wire-array plasma surface have energies below 1000 eV. In this paper, the physical model of the code MULTI-IFE and the simulation results of array implosions on Saturn facility are presented as well.

Simulation of forming process of Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum based on the program MULTI2D-Z

The radiation hydrodynamics code MULTI-2D, which was developed by Ramis et al. in 2009 (2009 Comput. Phys. Commun. 180 977) and adopted the single temperature fluid and unstructured lagrangian mesh, is modified into a radiation magnetohydrodynamics code MULTI2D-Z by adding the program module of evolution equation of magnetic field, and self-consistently considering the Lorentz force in the module of motion equation and the Ohmic heating in the module of energy equation. The newly developed module for magnetic field was validated to be reliable. The module is used to study the magnetic field diffusion process, and it is found that the diffusion is weakened due to the increasing of plasma temperature and density and the fluid convection, in which there is minus grads of velocity in radial direction. The new code MULTI2D-Z is used to simulate the formation process of dynamic hohlraum driven by tungsten wire-array Z-pinch at an 8 MA current level. The obtained results are that X-ray power and energy are, respectively, ～30 TW and ～300 kJ, radiation temperature in foam is ～120 eV, and the implosion trajectory of wire-array is also obtained. The calculated results reveal that the magnetic field is mainly distributed in the outside of tungsten plasma during the hohlraum formation. The foam expands due to the radiation heating from the shock wave created by the collision between wire-array plasma and the foam. The thermal radiation wave, which is characterized by radiation temperature, spreads towards the central axis faster than the plasma temperature. When the thermal radiation wave spreads to the central axis, the radiation temperature becomes comparatively uniform in space, and is almost equal to the plasma temperature except at the place of the shock wave. These results help the people to better understand the magnetic field diffusion and convection in Z-pinch, as well as the formation mechanism of dynamic hohlraum driven by wire-array Z-pinch. It is also indicated that the newly developed code MULTI2D-Z can be considered as a new tool for simulating Z-pinch and its applications, such as inertial confinement fusion and magnetically accelerated flyer plates.

Shock X-ray emission image measurement in Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum

Owing to high efficiency for delivering thermal radiation from Z-pinch plasma to an inertial fusion capsule, Z-pinch dynamic hohlraum (ZPDH) is a promising indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF) approach. ZPDH is created by accelerating an annular tungsten Z-pinch plasma radially inward to an internal low density convertor. The collision launches a radiating shock traveling inward. Radiations emitted from the shock, after being trapped and thermalized by the optically thick tungsten plasma, drive the internal fusion capsule to implode. In our previous experiments, shock propagating process has never been imaged or even never been formed, due to low drive current (about 1.3 MA). In this paper, the ZPDH has a load of single tungsten wire array embedded in a cylindrical 16 mg/cm3 C15H20O6 foam, and the tungsten wire array is explored using JuLong-1 facility (also named PTS facility) driven by current with a peak value of 7-8 MA and rising time of 60-70 ns (from 10% to 90%). Several results are presented for improving the understanding of the physics of the shock propagating and hohlraum forming. For the high optical depth in tungsten plasmas around the foam, radially directly diagnosing hohlraum radiation distribution along axis is impossible. The most convenient way to diagnose the radiation symmetry and the shock evolution is to take the end-on X-ray images. The time-resolved X-ray images of annular radiating shock evolution, which are performed with a 10-frame time-gated X-ray pinhole camera located at 0 with respect to the Z-pinch axis, are obtained for the first time in China. By analyzing the radial X-ray emission power waveform and intensity distribution of end-on radiation image, the process of wire array plasma impacting on the foam convertor and properties of dynamic hohlraum radiation are discussed. The shock emission structures are found to be circular, similar to the results predicted theoretically. The shock velocity which seems to be constant in the whole process of inward propagating is linearly fitted to be (14.21.7) cm/s. The annular width of shock emission is 0.8-0.9 mm, which is inferred from the full width at half maximum of radial lineout of end-on X-ray image at time t=-11.9 ns and the blurring effect of shock velocity. The radiation symmetry is assessed by statistic property of mean intensity of 36 sectors of end-on X-ray image evenly divided by 10. The standard deviation of azimuthal shock emission intensity is 10% while that of hohlraum region prior to shock impact is 4.2%. The azimuthal symmetry improvement from shock emission to hohlraum radiation is a piece of exciting news for ZPDH driven ICF.

An experimental platform for creating white dwarf photospheres in the laboratory: Preliminary results

We present the current status of the White Dwarf Photosphere Experiment at the Z Pulsed Power Facility at Sandia National Laboratories. This experiment has evolved into a unique platform for simultaneously measuring emission, absorption, and back-lighter continua spectra of plasmas with white dwarf (WD) photospheric compositions and conditions (Te∼1 eV, ne∼1016–1018e/cm3); our current experiments involve line profile measurements of hydrogen—corresponding to the most common surface composition in white dwarf stars, with future experiments planned for helium, carbon, and oxygen. These profiles will test line broadening theories used in white dwarf model atmospheres to infer the fundamental parameters (e.g., effective temperature and mass) of thousands of WDs. This experiment uses the large amount of x-rays generated from a z-pinch dynamic hohlraum to radiatively drive plasma formation in a gas cell. We reach significantly higher densities than the landmark study of Wiese et al. (1972), thereby putting competing line broadening theories to the test in a regime where their predictions strongly diverge. The simultaneous measurement of emission, absorption, and back-lighter continua in macroscopic plasmas represents a significant advance relative to hydrogen line profile experiments of the past.