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Casey, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Casey, D..

15 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Diagnosing the origin and impact of low-mode asymmetries in ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility

Inertial confinement fusion ignition requires high inflight shell velocity, good energy coupling between the hotspot and shell, and high areal density at peak compression. Three-dimensional asymmetries caused by imperfections in the drive symmetry or target can grow and damage the coupling and confinement. Recent high-yield experiments have shown that low-mode asymmetries are a key degradation mechanism and contribute to variability. Here we show the experimental signatures and impacts of asymmetry change with increasing implosion yield given the same initial cause. This letter has implications for improving robustness to a key degradation in ignition experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Correlations between asymmetric compression, burn amplification, and hot-spot velocities in inertial confinement fusion implosions

Here, this manuscript examines the correlations between the hot-spot velocity (an observable signature of residual kinetic energy), low-mode implosion asymmetries, and burn amplification in inertial confinement fusion implosions on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Using a combination of two-dimensional axis-symmetric and three-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations coupled to neutronics, we find that for typical NIF implosions, the stagnation asymmetry multiplies the observed hot-spot velocity anywhere from 80% to 120%, while burn amplification always increases it. Additionally, we find stagnation asymmetry typically deflects the observed hot-spot flow. The two mechanisms (low-mode implosion asymmetries and burn amplification) can be decoupled, and application of a simple model to a database of cryogenic implosions on the NIF infers the total hot-spot velocity amplification. This finding modifies the interpretation of data collected from inertial confinement fusion experiments and impacts the magnitude and origin of low-mode asymmetries.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Measuring and simulating ice–ablator mix in inertial confinement fusion

Fuel–ablator mix has been established as a major performance degrading effect in the burning plasma regime of recent inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. As such, the study of fuel–ablator mix with experiments and simulations can provide valuable insight for our understanding of these experiments and establish a path for even higher yields and increased robustness. Here we present a novel high-yield experimental ICF design that is motivated by recent experiments measuring ice–ablator mix with a CH ablator instead of a high-density carbon (HDC) ablator. Here we review these experiments in more detail and describe the modeling assumptions and parameters used to obtain agreement with the data from implosion and burn simulations with mix. Using this mix model calibrated a posteriori to the experimental data, we design an implosion that uses a CH ablator that is predicted to achieve better performance than a recent experiment that achieved net target gain of 1.5 in HDC. Because hydrodynamic instabilities are greatly reduced with this new design, we also expect a high reproducibility at the same implosion adiabat as current record yield experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Fusion Energy Output Greater than the Kinetic Energy of an Imploding Shell at the National Ignition Facility

A series of cryogenic, layered deuterium-tritium (DT) implosions have produced, for the first time, fusion energy output twice the peak kinetic energy of the imploding shell. These experiments at the National Ignition Facility utilized high density carbon ablators with a three-shock laser pulse (1.5 MJ in 7.5 ns) to irradiate low gas-filled ( 0.3 mg / cc of helium) bare depleted uranium hohlraums, resulting in a peak hohlraum radiative temperature ~ 290 eV . The imploding shell, composed of the nonablated high density carbon and the DT cryogenic layer, is, thus, driven to velocity on the order of 380 km / s resulting in a peak kinetic energy of ~ 21 kJ , which once stagnated produced a total DT neutron yield of 1.9 × 10 16 (shot N170827) corresponding to an output fusion energy of 54 kJ. Time dependent low mode asymmetries that limited further progress of implosions have now been controlled, leading to an increased compression of the hot spot. Finally, it resulted in hot spot areal density ( ρr ~ 0.3 g / cm 2 ) and stagnation pressure ( ~ 360 Gbar ) never before achieved in a laboratory experiment.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Inclusive muon and $B$ quark production cross-sections in $p \bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 1.8-TeV

We have calculated the double and triple differential cross sections for electron ejection with energy of 14.6 eV in single ionization of H2 by 75 keV proton impact. A molecular version of the continuum distorted wave-eikonal initial state approach is applied, where the interaction between the projectile and the residual molecular ion is considered more properly than in previous applications of the method. For triple differential cross sections, the present results are in better agreement with the experimental data than those of other descriptions when large momentum transfer values are considered. For double differential cross sections the experimental data are reproduced quite well for both coherent and incoherent proton beams.

DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Near-vacuum hohlraums for driving fusion implosions with high density carbon ablatorsa)

Recent experiments at the National Ignition Facility [M. J. Edwards et al., Phys. Plasmas 20, 070501 (2013)] have explored driving high-density carbon ablators with near-vacuum hohlraums, which use a minimal amount of helium gas fill. These hohlraums show improved efficiency relative to conventional gas-filled hohlraums in terms of minimal backscatter, minimal generation of suprathermal electrons, and increased hohlraum-capsule coupling. Given these advantages, near-vacuum hohlraums are a promising choice for pursuing high neutron yield implosions. Long pulse symmetry control, though, remains a challenge, as the hohlraum volume fills with material. Here, two mitigation methodologies have been explored, dynamic beam phasing and increased case-to-capsule ratio (larger hohlraum size relative to capsule). Unexpectedly, experiments have demonstrated that the inner laser beam propagation is better than predicted by nominal simulations, and an enhanced beam propagation model is required to match measured hot spot symmetry. Ongoing work is focused on developing a physical model which captures this enhanced propagation and on utilizing the enhanced propagation to drive longer laser pulses than originally predicted in order to reach alpha-heating dominated neutron yields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

In-flight observations of low-mode ρR asymmetries in NIF implosions

Charged-particle spectroscopy is used to assess implosion symmetry in ignition-scale indirect-drive implosions for the first time. Surrogate D{sup 3}He gas-filled implosions at the National Ignition Facility produce energetic protons via D+{sup 3}He fusion that are used to measure the implosion areal density (ρR) at the shock-bang time. By using protons produced several hundred ps before the main compression bang, the implosion is diagnosed in-flight at a convergence ratio of 3–5 just prior to peak velocity. This isolates acceleration-phase asymmetry growth. For many surrogate implosions, proton spectrometers placed at the north pole and equator reveal significant asymmetries with amplitudes routinely ≳10%, which are interpreted as ℓ=2 Legendre modes. With significant expected growth by stagnation, it is likely that these asymmetries would degrade the final implosion performance. X-ray self-emission images at stagnation show asymmetries that are positively correlated with the observed in-flight asymmetries and comparable in magnitude, contradicting growth models; this suggests that the hot-spot shape does not reflect the stagnated shell shape or that significant residual kinetic energy exists at stagnation. More prolate implosions are observed when the laser drive is sustained (“no-coast”), implying a significant time-dependent asymmetry in peak drive.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Conceptual design of the gamma-to-electron magnetic spectrometer for the National Ignition Facility

The Gamma-to-Electron Magnetic Spectrometer (GEMS) diagnostic is designed to measure the prompt γ-ray energy spectrum during high yield deuterium-tritium (DT) implosions at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The prompt γ-ray spectrum will provide “burn-averaged” observables, including total DT fusion yield, total areal density (ρR), ablator ρR, and fuel ρR. These burn-averaged observables are unique because they are essentially averaged over 4π, providing a global reference for the line-of-sight-specific measurements typical of x-ray and neutron diagnostics. The GEMS conceptual design meets the physics-based requirements: ΔE/E = 3%–5% can be achieved in the range of 2–25 MeV γ-ray energy. Minimum DT neutron yields required for 15% measurement uncertainty at low-resolution mode are: 5 × 10{sup 14} DT-n for ablator ρR (at 0.2 g/cm{sup 2}); 2 × 10{sup 15} DT-n for total DT yield (at 4.2 × 10{sup −5} γ/n); and 1 × 10{sup 16} DT-n for fuel ρR (at 1 g/cm{sup 2})

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

The effect of shock dynamics on compressibility of ignition-scale National Ignition Facility implosions

The effects of shock dynamics on compressibility of indirect-drive ignition-scale surrogate implosions, CH shells filled with D{sup 3}He gas, have been studied using charged-particle spectroscopy. Spectral measurements of D{sup 3}He protons produced at the shock-bang time probe the shock dynamics and in-flight characteristics of an implosion. The proton shock yield is found to vary by over an order of magnitude. A simple model relates the observed yield to incipient hot-spot adiabat, suggesting that implosions with rapid radiation-power increase during the main drive pulse may have a 2× higher hot-spot adiabat, potentially reducing compressibility. A self-consistent 1-D implosion model was used to infer the areal density (ρR) and the shell center-of-mass radius (R{sub cm}) from the downshift of the shock-produced D{sup 3}He protons. The observed ρR at shock-bang time is substantially higher for implosions, where the laser drive is on until near the compression bang time (“short-coast”), while longer-coasting implosions have lower ρR. This corresponds to a much larger temporal difference between the shock- and compression-bang time in the long-coast implosions (∼800 ps) than in the short-coast (∼400 ps); this will be verified with a future direct bang-time diagnostic. This model-inferred differential bang time contradicts radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, which predict constant 700–800 ps differential independent of coasting time; this result is potentially explained by uncertainties in modeling late-time ablation drive on the capsule. In an ignition experiment, an earlier shock-bang time resulting in an earlier onset of shell deceleration, potentially reducing compression and, thus, fuel ρR.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Observation of a Reflected Shock in an Indirectly Driven Spherical Implosion at the National Ignition Facility

A 200 μm radius hot spot at more than 2 keV temperature, 1 g=cm3 density has been achieved on the National Ignition Facility using a near vacuum hohlraum. The implosion exhibits ideal one-dimensional behavior and 99% laser-to-hohlraum coupling. The low opacity of the remaining shell at bang time allows for a measurement of the x-ray emission of the reflected central shock in a deuterium plasma. Comparison with 1D hydrodynamic simulations puts constraints on electron-ion collisions and heat conduction. Results are consistent with classical (Spitzer-Harm) heat flux.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Structure and Dynamics of Colliding Plasma Jets

Monoenergetic-proton radiographs of laser-generated, high-Mach-number plasma jets colliding at various angles shed light on the structures and dynamics of these collisions. The observations compare favorably with results from 2D hydrodynamic simulations of multistream plasma jets, and also with results from an analytic treatment of electron flow and magnetic field advection. In collisions of two noncollinear jets, the observed flow structure is similar to the analytic model’s prediction of a characteristic feature with a narrow structure pointing in one direction and a much thicker one pointing in the opposite direction. Spontaneous magnetic fields, largely azimuthal around the colliding jets and generated by the well-known ∇T e ×∇n e Biermann battery effect near the periphery of the laser spots, are demonstrated to be “frozen in” the plasma (due to high magnetic Reynolds number R M ~5×10⁴) and advected along the jet streamlines of the electron flow. These studies provide novel insight into the interactions and dynamics of colliding plasma jets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

FY13 LLNL OMEGA Experimental Programs

In FY13, LLNL’s High-Energy-Density Physics (HED) and Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF-ID) programs conducted several campaigns on the OMEGA laser system and on the EP laser system, as well as campaigns that used the OMEGA and EP beams jointly. Overall LLNL led 290 target shots involving the OMEGA laser system and 158 target shots involving the EP laser system. Approximately 34% of the total number of shots (93 OMEGA shots, 58 EP shots) shots supported the Indirect Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Campaign (ICF-ID). The remaining 66% (197 OMEGA shots and 100 EP shots) were dedicated to experiments for High-Energy-Density Physics (HED).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1986

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B experiment over Argentina Mapping of forest units

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B data of the Cordon la Grasa region of the Chubut Province of Argentina are used to discriminate various forest types by their relative brightness versus incidence angle signatures. The region consists of several species of Nothofagas which change in canopy structure with elevation, slope, and exposure. In general, the factors that appear to impact the radar response most are canopy structure, density, and ground cover (presence or absence of dead trunks and branches in particular). The results of this work indicate that (1) different forest species, and structures of a single species, may be discriminated using multiple incidence angle radar imagery and (2) it is essential to consider the variation in backscatter due to incidence angle when analyzing the comparing data collected at varying frequencies and polarizations.

Cimino, J.↗