Hohlraum-Driven Ignitionlike Double-Shell Implosions on the Omega Laser Facility

Abstract

High-convergence ignitionlike double-shell implosion experiments have been performed on the Omega laser facility [T. R. Boehly, Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)] using cylindrical gold hohlraums with 40 drive beams. Repeatable, dominant primary (2.45 MeV) neutron production from the mix-susceptible compressional phase of a double-shell implosion, using fall-line design optimization and exacting fabrication standards, is experimentally inferred from time-resolved core x-ray imaging. Effective control of fuel-pusher mix during final compression is essential for achieving noncryogenic ignition with double-shell targets on the National Ignition Facility [Paisner, Laser Focus World 30, 75 (1994)].