Direct Experimental Proof of the Principal Role of Reduced High-Mode Hydrodynamic Mix in Recent Ignition Success on NIF.
| Title: | Direct Experimental Proof of the Principal Role of Reduced High-Mode Hydrodynamic Mix in Recent Ignition Success on NIF. |
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| Authors: | Bachmann B; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Divol L; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Pak A; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Birge NW; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA.; Casey DT; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Dewald EL; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Kozioziemski B; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Kritcher AL; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Nikroo A; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Ralph JE; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Rubery MS; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Springer PT; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Stoupin S; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Wong KW; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Zylstra AB; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Baxamusa SH; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Braun T; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Choate C; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Clark DS; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Durocher M; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA.; Fittinghoff D; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Freeman MS; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA.; Khan SF; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Kong C; General Atomics, San Diego, California 91941, USA.; MacPhee AG; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Marley EV; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Meaney K; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA.; Moore A; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Ratledge M; General Atomics, San Diego, California 91941, USA.; Ruof NW; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Sequoia K; General Atomics, San Diego, California 91941, USA.; Simpson R; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Stadermann M; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Tommasini R; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Trosseille C; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Volegov P; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA.; Weber CR; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Landen OL; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.; Town RPJ; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA. |
| Source: | Physical review letters [Phys Rev Lett] 2025 Aug 08; Vol. 135 (6), pp. 065101. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: American Physical Society Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0401141 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1079-7114 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00319007 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Phys Rev Lett Subsets: MEDLINE; PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: New York : American Physical Society |
| Abstract: | This Letter details the role of reduced hydrodynamic mix in achieving the first fusion plasma to satisfy the Lawson criterion for ignition. Using novel 3D measurements of the temperature and density of the burning deuterium-tritium plasma across a series of experiments, we demonstrate that hydrodynamic mixing from small-scale capsule defects was a key degradation mechanism inhibiting ignition. A series of five layered deuterium-tritium experiments using 1.9 MJ of laser energy demonstrates a 2× reduction of the thermonuclear yield when a lower quality capsule, typical of preignition experiments, is used. Radiation hydrodynamic calculations consistent with the observed mix profile show that the mixed fuel's reduced compression and increased radiative loss explain the yield reduction. A hydroscaling argument suggests that a ∼3 MJ laser would be needed to reach ignition with such a capsule, well beyond the current capabilities of high energy laser systems. As such, this Letter gives critical insight into the physics of mix in self-heated fusion plasmas and establishes a foundation to evaluate capsule quality needs of future inertial fusion designs that aim at ignition and high gain. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250827 Latest Revision: 20250827 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| DOI: | 10.1103/sznp-zplz |
| PMID: | 40864949 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article