Low Density Doped Foams for ICF Long Scale Length Plasma Experiments

Abstract

Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) targets occasionally require the presence of diagnostic dopants to facilitate temperature measurements. To this end poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP or TPX) foams were produced with very low densities (3 to 5 mg/cc) and low levels of diagnostic dopants. The dopants added to the foams were titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn). The transition metal doped foams were produced with metal loadings as high as 1 wt%, and densities between 3 and 5 mg/cc. The average foam densities were determined using β-transmission, and the dopant amounts were determined using x-ray fluorescence. Procedures for doped foam production and measurements of the resulting foam characteristics will be presented.