CO2 laser-driven high-density implosion experiments

Abstract

Glass microballoons, coated with various thicknesses of plastic ablator and filled with deuterium‐tritium gas mixtures, were irradiated with the eight‐beam Helios CO₂ laser. Neutron yield, fuel temperature, compressed fuel density, and implosion time were measured as functions of ablator thickness. Hydrodynamic efficiency and preheating of these targets were estimated. Transition from fuel conditions characteristic of earlier exploding pusher experiments to those characteristic of a more nearly isentropic mode of implosion is illustrated. Fuel densities above 2 g/cm³ were achieved.