Infrared redistribution of D2 and HD layers for inertial confinement fusion

Abstract

We describe a technique to form uniform solid D2 or HD layers for inertial confinement fusion targets. Pumping the infrared (IR) collision induced vibration–rotation band in solid D2 or HD redistributes the solid into a relatively uniform layer depending on the IR intensity profile. Measured redistribution time constants are near the calculated values. We have observed redistribution time constants in HD up to ten times smaller than the DT value.