Exploding-pusher-tamper areal density measurement by neutron activation

Abstract

Neutron activation of ²⁸Si nuclei was used to measure the areal density ρΔR of a silicate‐glass tamper of a laser‐driven exploding‐pusher target. The values found were in good agreement with complex computer codes and an empirically based scaling model. This is the first demonstration of a technique that will be used in diagnosing the compression of high‐density inertial confinement fusion targets.