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Divol, L

Publications and source records attributed to Divol, L.

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

Characterizing counter-streaming interpenetrating plasmas relevant to astrophysical collisionless shocks

A series of Omega experiments have produced and characterized high velocity counter-streaming plasma flows relevant for the creation of collisionless shocks. Single and double CH{sub 2} foils have been irradiated with a laser intensity of {approx} 10{sup 16} W/cm{sup 2}. The laser ablated plasma was characterized 4 mm from the foil surface using Thomson scattering. A peak plasma flow velocity of 2000 km/s, an electron temperature of {approx} 110 eV, an ion temperature of {approx} 30 eV, and a density of {approx} 10{sup 18} cm{sup -3} were measured in the single foil configuration. Significant increases in electron and ion temperatures were seen in the double foil geometry. The measured single foil plasma conditions were used to calculate the ion skin depth, c/{omega}{sub pi}{approx}0.16 mm, the interaction length, Script-Small-L {sub int}, of {approx} 8 mm, and the Coulomb mean free path, {lambda}{sub mfp}{approx}27mm. With c/{omega}{sub pi} Much-Less-Than Script-Small-L {sub int} Much-Less-Than {lambda}{sub mfp}, we are in a regime where collisionless shock formation is possible.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Crossed-beam energy transfer in direct-drive implosions

Direct-drive-implosion experiments on the OMEGA laser [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)] have showed discrepancies between simulations of the scattered (non-absorbed) light levels and measured ones that indicate the presence of a mechanism that reduces laser coupling efficiency by 10%-20%. This appears to be due to crossed-beam energy transfer (CBET) that involves electromagnetic-seeded, low-gain stimulated Brillouin scattering. CBET scatters energy from the central portion of the incoming light beam to outgoing light, reducing the laser absorption and hydrodynamic efficiency of implosions. One-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations including CBET show good agreement with all observables in implosion experiments on OMEGA. Three strategies to mitigate CBET and improve laser coupling are considered: the use of narrow beams, multicolor lasers, and higher-Z ablators. Experiments on OMEGA using narrow beams have demonstrated improvements in implosion performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Imaging Thomson scattering measurements of radiatively heated Xe

Uniform density and temperature Xe plasmas have been produced over >4 mm scale-lengths using x-rays generated in a cylindrical Pb cavity. The cavity is 750 {micro}m in depth and diameter, and is heated by a 300 J, 2 ns square, 1054 nm laser pulse focused to a spot size of 200 {micro}m at the cavity entrance. The plasma is characterized by simultaneous imaging Thomson scattering measurements from both the electron and ion scattering features. The electron feature measurement determines the spatial electron density and temperature profile, and using these parameters as constraints in the ion feature analysis allows an accurate determination of the charge state of the Xe ions. The Thomson scattering probe beam is 40 J, 200 ps, and 527 nm, and is focused to a 100 {micro}m spot size at the entrance of the Pb cavity. Each system has a spatial resolution of 25 {micro}m, a temporal resolution of 200 ps (as determined by the probe duration), and a spectral resolution of 2 nm for the electron feature system and 0.025 nm for the ion feature system. The experiment is performed in a Xe filled target chamber at a neutral pressure of 3-10 Torr, and the x-rays produced in the Pb ionize and heat the Xe to a charge state of 20 {+-} 4 at up to 200 eV electron temperatures.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

High aspect ratio hard x-ray (> 100 keV) imager to measure hot electron preheat for indirectly driven capsule implosions on the National Ignition Facility

We have fielded a multi-pinhole, hard x-ray (> 100 keV) imager to measure the spatially-resolved bremsstrahlung emission from energetic electrons slowing in a plastic ablator shell during indirectly driven implosions at the National Ignition Facility. These electrons are generated in laser plasma interactions, and are a source of preheat to the deuterium-tritium fuel that could limit the compressibility required for ignition and burn. Our hard x-ray imaging measurements allow to set an upper limit to the DT fuel preheat, which we find is acceptable in current capsule implosions on the NIF.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2011

Comparison of Raman Scattering Measurements and Modeling in NIF Ignition Experiments

Recent NIF indirect-drive experiments have shown significant Raman scattering from the inner beams. NIF data has motivated improvements to rad-hydro modeling, leading to the 'high flux model' [M. D. Rosen et al., HEDP 7, 180 (2011)]. Cross-beam energy transfer [P. A. Michel et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 056305 (2010] in the laser entrance hole is an important tool for achieving round implosions, and is uniformly distributed across the laser spot in rad-hydro simulations (but not necessarily in experiments). We find the Raman linear gain spectra computed with these plasma conditions agree well in time-dependent peak wavelength with the measured data, especially when overlapping laser-beam intensities are used. More detailed, spatially non-uniform modeling of the cross-beam transfer has been performed. The resulting gains better follow the time history of the measured backscatter. We shall present the impact of spatially non-uniform energy transfer on SRS gain. This metric is valid when amplification is in a linear regime, and so we shall also present an assessment of whether electron trapping in Langmuir waves can play a role in these shots.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Progress and prospects for an FI relevant point design

The physics issues involved in scaling from sub ignition to high gain fast ignition are discussed. Successful point designs must collimate the electrons and minimize the stand off distance to avoid multi mega-joule ignition energies. Collimating B field configurations are identified and some initial designs are explored.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2011

Focusing of intense subpicosecond laser pulses in wedge targets

Two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations characterizing the interaction of ultraintense short pulse lasers in the range 10{sup 18} {<=} I {<=} 10{sup 20} W/cm{sup 2} with converging target geometries are presented. Seeking to examine intensity amplification in high-power laser systems, where focal spots are typically non-diffraction limited, we describe key dynamical features as the injected laser intensity and convergence angle of the target are systematically varied. We find that laser pulses are focused down to a wavelength with the peak intensity amplified by an order of magnitude beyond its vacuum value and develop a simple model for how the peak location moves back towards the injection plane over time. This performance is sustained over hundreds of femtoseconds and scales to laser intensities beyond 10{sup 20} W/cm{sup 2} at 1 {mu}m wavelength.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Multi-beam effects on backscatter and its saturation in experiments with conditions relevant to ignition

To optimize the coupling to indirect drive targets in the National Ignition Campaign (NIC) at the National Ignition Facility, a model of stimulated scattering produced by multiple laser beams is used. The model has shown that scatter of the 351 nm beams can be significantly enhanced over single beam predictions in ignition relevant targets by the interaction of the multiple crossing beams with a millimeter scale length, 2.5 keV, 0.02 - 0.05 x critical density, plasma. The model uses a suite of simulation capabilities and its key aspects are benchmarked with experiments at smaller laser facilities. The model has also influenced the design of the initial targets used for NIC by showing that both the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) can be reduced by the reduction of the plasma density in the beam intersection volume that is caused by an increase in the diameter of the laser entrance hole (LEH). In this model, a linear wave response leads to a small gain exponent produced by each crossing quad of beams (<~1 per quad) which amplifies the scattering that originates in the target interior where the individual beams are separated and crosses many or all other beams near the LEH as it exits the target. As a result all 23 crossing quads of beams produce a total gain exponent of several or greater for seeds of light with wavelengths in the range that is expected for scattering from the interior (480 to 580 nm for SRS). This means that in the absence of wave saturation, the overall multi-beam scatter will be significantly larger than the expectations for single beams. The potential for non-linear saturation of the Langmuir waves amplifying SRS light is also analyzed with a two dimensional, vectorized, particle in cell code (2D VPIC) that is benchmarked by amplification experiments in a plasma with normalized parameters similar to ignition targets. The physics of cumulative scattering by multiple crossing beams that simultaneously amplify the same SBS light wave is further demonstrated in experiments that benchmark the linear models for the ion waves amplifying SBS. Here, the expectation from this model and its experimental benchmarks is shown to be consistent with observations of stimulated Raman scatter in the first series of energetic experiments with ignition targets, confirming the importance of the multi-beam scattering model for optimizing coupling.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2011

Capsule implosion optimization during the indirect-drive National Ignition Campaign

Capsule performance optimization campaigns will be conducted at the National Ignition Facility [G. H. Miller, E. I. Moses, and C. R. Wuest, Nucl. Fusion 44, 228 (2004)] to substantially increase the probability of ignition. The campaigns will experimentally correct for residual uncertainties in the implosion and hohlraum physics used in our radiation-hydrodynamic computational models using a variety of ignition capsule surrogates before proceeding to cryogenic-layered implosions and ignition experiments. The quantitative goals and technique options and down selections for the tuning campaigns are first explained. The computationally derived sensitivities to key laser and target parameters are compared to simple analytic models to gain further insight into the physics of the tuning techniques. The results of the validation of the tuning techniques at the OMEGA facility [J. M. Soures et al., Phys. Plasmas 3, 2108 (1996)] under scaled hohlraum and capsule conditions relevant to the ignition design are shown to meet the required sensitivity and accuracy. A roll-up of all expected random and systematic uncertainties in setting the key ignition laser and target parameters due to residual measurement, calibration, cross-coupling, surrogacy, and scale-up errors has been derived that meets the required budget. Finally, we show how the tuning precision will be improved after a number of shots and iterations to meet an acceptable level of residual uncertainty.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗