Time-dependent nuclear measurements of mix in inertial confinement fusion.
The first time-dependent nuclear measurements of turbulent mix in inertial confinement fusion have been obtained. Implosions of spherical deuterated-plastic shells filled with pure 3He gas require atomic-scale mixing of the shell and gas for the D-3He nuclear reaction to proceed. The time necessary for Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) growth to induce mix delays peak nuclear production time, compared to equivalent capsules filled with a D2-3He mixture, by 75+/-30 ps, equal to half the nuclear burn duration. These observations indicate the likelihood of atomic mix at the tips of core-penetrating RT spikes.
Rygg
J R
JR
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Frenje
J A
JA
Li
C K
CK
Séguin
F H
FH
Petrasso
R D
RD
Glebov
V Yu
VY
Meyerhofer
D D
DD
Sangster
T C
TC
Stoeckl
C
C