ICF target diagnostics on PBFA II (invited)

Abstract

Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator II is a light-ion fusion accelerator that is presently capable of irradiating a 6-mm-diam sphere with ∼50 kJ of 5.5-MeV protons in ∼15 ns. An array of particle and x-ray diagnostics fielded on proton Inertial Confinement Fusion target experiments quantifies the incident particle beam and the subsequent target response. An overview of the ion and target diagnostic setup and capabilities will be given in the context of recent proton beam experiments aimed at studying soft x-ray emission from foam-filled targets and the hydrodynamic response of exploding-pusher targets. Ion beam diagnostics indicate ∼100 kJ of proton beam energy incident within a 1.2-cm radius of the center of the diode with an azimuthal uniformity which varied between 6% and 29%. Foam-filled target temperatures of 35 eV and closure velocities of 4 cm/μs were measured.