Optimizing neutron imaging line of sight locations for maximizing sampling of the cold fuel density in inertial confinement fusion implosions at the National Ignition Facility

Neutron imaging provides a ready measurement of the shape of the “hot spot” core of an inertial confinement fusion implosion. The 14-MeV neutrons emitted by deuterium-tritium reactions are imaged at the National Ignition Facility using a pinhole array onto a scintillator, and the images are recorded...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of scientific instruments 2018-10, Vol.89 (10), p.10I147-10I147
Main Authors: Batha, S. H., Volegov, P. L., Fatherley, V. E., Geppert-Kleinrath, V., Wilde, C. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Cold
Density
Deuterium
Fuels
Ignition
Image reconstruction
Implosions
Inertial confinement fusion
INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Kinematics
Line of sight
Neutrons
Optimization
Pinholes
Scattering cross sections
Scientific apparatus & instruments
Scintillation counters
Tritium
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Neutron imaging provides a ready measurement of the shape of the “hot spot” core of an inertial confinement fusion implosion. The 14-MeV neutrons emitted by deuterium-tritium reactions are imaged at the National Ignition Facility using a pinhole array onto a scintillator, and the images are recorded on a camera. By changing the gate time of the camera, lower energy neutrons, downscattered by the cold fuel surrounding the hot spot, are recorded. The cold fuel density can be reconstructed using the two images. The kinematics of the scattering coupled with the scattering cross sections restrict the angular extent of the cold fuel sampled, with the backside of the implosion not being sampled at all. This work demonstrates the limited region of the cold fuel measured by the current line of sight (40%). At completion of the three planned lines of sight, 79% of the cold fuel will be sampled.
ISSN:0034-6748
1089-7623
DOI:10.1063/1.5038815