Pressure Ionization in Ultra-High-Density Plasmas

Tilo Doeppner | 18-ERD-033

Executive Summary

We are establishing a physical understanding of recent recordings of plasma ionization under extreme conditions that contradict current models, and we are studying their implications for inertial confinement fusion implosions. If successful, this research will lead to improved fusion models and capsule dopant design in support of nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship.

Publications and Presentations

Bishel, D. T., et al. 2018. "Using Time-Resolved Penumbral Imaging to Measure Low Hot Spot X-Ray Emission Signals from Capsule Implosions at the National Ignition Facility." Review of Scientific Instruments 89(10): 10G111. doi: 10.1063/1.5037073. LLNL-CONF-748979.

Doeppner, T. 2018. "Role of Ionic Screening in Pressure Ionization in Dense Plasmas." NIF User Group Meeting, Livermore 2018. LLNL-PRES-745797.

Doeppner, T., et al. 2018. "Using X-Ray Thomson Scattering to Characterize Highly Compressed, Near-Degenerate Plasmas at the NIF." 60th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Portland, OR, November 2018. LLNL-PRES-740025.

Kraus, D., et al. 2018. "Characterizing the Ionization Potential Depression in Dense Carbon Plasmas with High-Precision Spectrally Resolved X-Ray Scattering." Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 61(1). LLNL-JRNL-757664.

——— . 2018. "High-Pressure Chemistry of Hydrocarbons Relevant to Planetary Interiors and Inertial Confinement Fusion." Physics of Plasmas 25: 056313. doi: 10.1063/1.5017908. LLNL-JRNL-742865.

LeFevre, H. J., et al. 2018. "A Platform for X-Ray Thomson Scattering Measurements of Radiation Hydrodynamics Experiments on the NIF." Review of Scientific Instruments 89(10): 10F105. doi: 10.1063/1.5039392. LLNL-JRNL-751761.

MacDonald, M., et al. 2017. "Spatially Resolved X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Beryllium Capsule Implosions on the NIF." 59th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Milwaukee, WI, October 2017. LLNL-PRES-740155.

——— . 2018. "Developing a Long Duration Zn K-Alpha Source for X-Ray Scattering Experiments." Review of Scientific Instruments 89(10): 10F109. doi: 10.1063/1.5039365. LLNL-JRNL-750935.

Saunders, A. M., et al. 2018. "X-Ray Thomson Scattering and Radiography from Spherical Implosions on the OMEGA Laser." 35th European Conference on Laser Interaction with Matter, Crete, Greece, October 2018. LLNL-ABS-757629.

——— . 2018. "Influence of Argon Impurities on the Elastic Scattering of X-Rays from Imploding Beryllium Capsules." High Energy Density Physics 26: 86–92. doi: 10.1016/j.hedp.2018.02.003. LLNL-JRNL-742926.

——— . 2018. "X-Ray Thomson Scattering and Radiography from Imploding Diamond Spheres on the OMEGA Laser." 60th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, Portland, OR, November 2018. LLNL-ABS-754245.

——— . 2018. "X-Ray Thomson Scattering from Shock-Compressed Diamond Spheres on the OMEGA Laser." Hirschegg Workshop Proceedings. doi: 10.2172/1438609. LLNL-TR-749011.

——— . 2018. "X-Ray Thomson Scattering and Radiography from Spherical Implosions on the OMEGA Laser." PHEDM-Hirschegg Workshop, Hirschegg, Austria, January 2018. LLNL-PRES-745661.