Enhanced direct-drive implosions with thin high-Z ablation layers.
New direct-drive spherical implosion experiments with deuterium filled plastic shells have demonstrated significant and absolute (2x) improvements in neutron yield when the shells are coated with a very thin layer ( approximately 200-400 A) of high-Z material such as palladium. This improvement is interpreted as resulting from increased stability of the imploding shell. These results provide for a possible path to control laser imprint and stability in laser-fusion-energy target designs.
Mostovych
Andrew N
AN
Enterprise Sciences, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland 20905, USA.
Colombant
Denis G
DG
Karasik
Max
M
Knauer
James P
JP
Schmitt
Andrew J
AJ
Weaver
James L
JL