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  • Symmetric Inertial Confinem...
    Glenzer, S.H; MacGowan, B.J; Michel, P; Meezan, N.B; Suter, L.J; Dixit, S.N; Kline, J.L; Kyrala, G.A; Bradley, D.K; Callahan, D.A; Dewald, E.L; Divol, L; Dzenitis, E; Edwards, M.J; Hamza, A.V; Haynam, C.A; Hinkel, D.E; Kalantar, D.H; Kilkenny, J.D; Landen, O.L; Lindl, J.D; LePape, S; Moody, J.D; Nikroo, A; Parham, T; Schneider, M.B; Town, R.P.J; Wegner, P; Widmann, K; Whitman, P; Young, B.K.F; Van Wonterghem, B; Atherton, L.J; Moses, E.I

    Science, 03/2010, Volume: 327, Issue: 5970
    Journal Article

    Indirect-drive hohlraum experiments at the National Ignition Facility have demonstrated symmetric capsule implosions at unprecedented laser drive energies of 0.7 megajoule. One hundred and ninety-two simultaneously fired laser beams heat ignition-emulate hohlraums to radiation temperatures of 3.3 million kelvin, compressing 1.8-millimeter-diameter capsules by the soft x-rays produced by the hohlraum. Self-generated plasma optics gratings on either end of the hohlraum tune the laser power distribution in the hohlraum, which produces a symmetric x-ray drive as inferred from the shape of the capsule self-emission. These experiments indicate that the conditions are suitable for compressing deuterium-tritium-filled capsules, with the goal of achieving burning fusion plasmas and energy gain in the laboratory.