Rapid calibration plan for NIF's Near Backscatter Imager (NBI).

A rapid calibration system is under development for the Near Backscatter Imager (NBI) in use at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). NBI is an optical diagnostic that quantifies the stimulated Brillouin and Raman backscatter produced by NIF's targets. Specifically, NBI measures the light that does not fall directly back into the laser aperture, which is measured by the Full Aperture Backscatter System (FABS). When working in tandem with FABS, NBI allows for the full characterization of backscattered light. This informs Hohlraum laser coupling, optical damage, and laser-plasma interaction models. NBI uses a large Spectralon plate covered by a protective glass layer and is mounted inside the target chamber where it is exposed to high energy backscatter, neutrons, and build-up debris left over from the exploded targets. This gradually alters the reflectivity of the plate, meaning that NBI needs to be calibrated regularly. Described here is NIF's design for a system capable of rapid in situ calibration of NBI that is to be installed in FY25.

Understanding the deficiency in inertial confinement fusion hohlraum x-ray flux predictions using experiments at the National Ignition Facility.

The predicted implosion performance of deuterium-tritium fuel capsules in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion experiments relies on precise calculations of the x-ray drive in laser-heated cavities (hohlraums). This requires accurate, spectrally dependent simulations of laser to x-ray conversion efficiencies and x-ray absorption losses to the hohlraum wall. A set of National Ignition Facility experiments have identified a cause for the long-standing hohlraum "drive deficit" as the overprediction of gold emission at ∼2.5 keV in nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium coronal plasma regions within the hohlraum. Reducing the emission and absorption opacity in this spectral region by ∼20% brings simulations into agreement with measured x-ray fluxes and spectra.

Probing local electron temperature and density inside a sheared flow stabilized Z-pinch using portable optical Thomson scattering.

We report the first optical Thomson scattering measurements inside a high electron temperature (≳1 keV) and moderate electron density (mid 1016 cm-3) plasma. This diagnostic has been built to provide critical plasma parameters, such as electron temperature and density, for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy-supported fusion-energy concepts. It uses an 8 J laser at 532 nm in 1.5 ns to measure the high frequency feature of the Thomson scattering profile at 17 locations along the probe axis. It is able to measure electron density from 5 × 1017 cm-3 to several 1019 cm-3 and electron temperatures from tens of eV to several keV. Here, we describe the design, deployment, and analysis on the sheared flow stabilized Z-pinch machine at Zap Energy named FuZE. The probe beam is aimed at an axial distance of 20 cm from the central electrode and is timed within the temporal envelope of neutron emission. The high temperature and moderate density plasmas generated on FuZE lie in an unconventional regime for Thomson scattering as they are between tokamaks and laser-produced plasmas. We described the analysis considerations in this regime, show that the electron density was below 5 × 1016 cm-3 at all times during these measurements, and present a sample shot where the inferred electron temperature varied from 167 ± 16 eV to 700 ± 85 eV over 1.6 cm.

Experimental evidence of early-time saturation of the ion-Weibel instability in counterstreaming plasmas of CH, Al, and Cu.

The collisionless ion-Weibel instability is a leading candidate mechanism for the formation of collisionless shocks in many astrophysical systems, where the typical distance between particle collisions is much larger than the system size. Multiple laboratory experiments aimed at studying this process utilize laser-driven (I≳10^{15} W/cm^{2}), counterstreaming plasma flows (V≲2000 km/s) to create conditions unstable to Weibel-filamentation and growth. This technique intrinsically produces temporally varying plasma conditions at the midplane of the interaction where Weibel-driven B fields are generated and studied. Experiments discussed herein demonstrate robust formation of Weibel-driven B fields under multiple plasma conditions using CH, Al, and Cu plasmas. Linear theory based on benchmarked radiation-hydrodynamic FLASH calculations is compared with Fourier analyses of proton images taken ∼5-6 linear growth times into the evolution. The new analyses presented here indicate that the low-density, high-velocity plasma-conditions present during the first linear-growth time (∼300-500 ps) sets the spectral characteristics of Weibel filaments during the entire evolution. It is shown that the dominant wavelength (∼300µm) at saturation persists well into the nonlinear phase, consistent with theory under these experimental conditions. However, estimates of B-field strength, while difficult to determine accurately due to the path-integrated nature of proton imaging, are shown to be in the ∼10-30 T range, an order of magnitude above the expected saturation limit in homogenous plamas but consistent with enhanced B fields in the midplane due to temporally varying plasma conditions in experiments.

Quantitative assessment of fitting errors associated with streak camera noise in Thomson scattering data analysis.

Thomson scattering measurements in high energy density experiments are often recorded using optical streak cameras. In the low-signal regime, noise introduced by the streak camera can become an important and sometimes the dominant source of measurement uncertainty. In this paper, we present a formal method of accounting for the presence of streak camera noise in our measurements. We present a phenomenological description of the noise generation mechanisms and present a statistical model that may be used to construct the covariance matrix associated with a given measurement. This model is benchmarked against simulations of streak camera images. We demonstrate how this covariance may then be used to weight fitting of the data and provide quantitative assessments of the uncertainty in the fitting parameters determined by the best fit to the data and build confidence in the ability to make statistically significant measurements in the low-signal regime, where spatial correlations in the noise become apparent. These methods will have general applicability to other measurements made using optical streak cameras.

Novel design for a polarizing DUV spectrometer using a Wollaston prism and its application as a diagnostic for measuring Thomson scattering data in the presence of strong self-emission backgrounds.

We present a novel design for an optical spectrometer for use in ultraviolet Thomson scattering measurements of plasma parameters in high energy density (HED) inertial confinement fusion experiments on large-scale high-energy laser facilities. In experiments investigating high-Z plasmas, the fidelity of measurements is commonly limited by signal/background ratios approaching or exceeding unity. An alpha barium borate Wollaston prism can provide both spectral dispersion and polarization channel separation, allowing simultaneous measurement of both the Thomson scattering signal and plasma self-emission along a single line of sight and in a single experiment, which should greatly improve data quality and reduce the opportunity cost of taking high quality measurements. We present a basic discussion of the design and a worked example of an instrument designed to take fourth harmonic electron plasma wave measurements in HED experiments at the OMEGA laser facility.

Measurement of Kinetic-Scale Current Filamentation Dynamics and Associated Magnetic Fields in Interpenetrating Plasmas.

We present the first local, quantitative measurements of ion current filamentation and magnetic field amplification in interpenetrating plasmas, characterizing the dynamics of the ion Weibel instability. The interaction of a pair of laser-generated, counterpropagating, collisionless, supersonic plasma flows is probed using optical Thomson scattering (TS). Analysis of the TS ion-feature revealed anticorrelated modulations in the density of the two ion streams at the spatial scale of the ion skin depth c/ω_{pi}=120 µm, and a correlated modulation in the plasma current. The inferred current profile implies a magnetic field amplitude ∼30±6 T, corresponding to ∼1% of the flow kinetic energy, indicating that magnetic trapping is the dominant saturation mechanism.

Two-photon absorption measurements of deep UV transmissible materials at 213 nm.

We report on two-photon absorption measurements at 213 nm of deep UV transmissible media, including LiF, MgF2, CaF2, BaF2, sapphire (Al2O3), and high-purity grades of fused-silica (SiO2). A high-stability 24 ps Nd:YAG laser operating at the 5th harmonic (213 nm) was used to generate a high-intensity, long-Rayleigh-length Gaussian focus inside the samples. The measurements of the fluoride crystals and sapphire indicate two-photon absorption coefficients between 0.004 and 0.82 cm/GW. We find that different grades of fused silica performed near identically for two-photon absorption; however, there are differences in linear losses associated with purity. A low two-photon absorption cross section is measured for MgF2, making it an ideal material for the propagation of high-intensity deep UV lasers.

Counterpropagating Radiative Shock Experiments on the Orion Laser.

We present new experiments to study the formation of radiative shocks and the interaction between two counterpropagating radiative shocks. The experiments are performed at the Orion laser facility, which is used to drive shocks in xenon inside large aspect ratio gas cells. The collision between the two shocks and their respective radiative precursors, combined with the formation of inherently three-dimensional shocks, provides a novel platform particularly suited for the benchmarking of numerical codes. The dynamics of the shocks before and after the collision are investigated using point-projection x-ray backlighting while, simultaneously, the electron density in the radiative precursor was measured via optical laser interferometry. Modeling of the experiments using the 2D radiation hydrodynamic codes nym and petra shows very good agreement with the experimental results.

Transition from Collisional to Collisionless Regimes in Interpenetrating Plasma Flows on the National Ignition Facility.

A study of the transition from collisional to collisionless plasma flows has been carried out at the National Ignition Facility using high Mach number (M>4) counterstreaming plasmas. In these experiments, CD-CD and CD-CH planar foils separated by 6-10 mm are irradiated with laser energies of 250 kJ per foil, generating ∼1000 km/s plasma flows. Varying the foil separation distance scales the ion density and average bulk velocity and, therefore, the ion-ion Coulomb mean free path, at the interaction region at the midplane. The characteristics of the flow interaction have been inferred from the neutrons and protons generated by deuteron-deuteron interactions and by x-ray emission from the hot, interpenetrating, and interacting plasmas. A localized burst of neutrons and bright x-ray emission near the midpoint of the counterstreaming flows was observed, suggesting strong heating and the initial stages of shock formation. As the separation of the CD-CH foils increases we observe enhanced neutron production compared to particle-in-cell simulations that include Coulomb collisions, but do not include collective collisionless plasma instabilities. The observed plasma heating and enhanced neutron production is consistent with the initial stages of collisionless shock formation, mediated by the Weibel filamentation instability.

Ultrafast probing of magnetic field growth inside a laser-driven solenoid.

We report on the detection of the time-dependent B-field amplitude and topology in a laser-driven solenoid. The B-field inferred from both proton deflectometry and Faraday rotation ramps up linearly in time reaching 210 ± 35 T at the end of a 0.75-ns laser drive with 1 TW at 351 nm. A lumped-element circuit model agrees well with the linear rise and suggests that the blow-off plasma screens the field between the plates leading to an increased plate capacitance that converts the laser-generated hot-electron current into a voltage source that drives current through the solenoid. ALE3D modeling shows that target disassembly and current diffusion may limit the B-field increase for longer laser drive. Scaling of these experimental results to a National Ignition Facility (NIF) hohlraum target size (∼0.2cm^{3}) indicates that it is possible to achieve several tens of Tesla.

Anomalous Heating and Plasmoid Formation in a Driven Magnetic Reconnection Experiment.

We present a detailed study of magnetic reconnection in a quasi-two-dimensional pulsed-power driven laboratory experiment. Oppositely directed magnetic fields (B=3 T), advected by supersonic, sub-Alfvénic carbon plasma flows (V_{in}=50 km/s), are brought together and mutually annihilate inside a thin current layer (δ=0.6 mm). Temporally and spatially resolved optical diagnostics, including interferometry, Faraday rotation imaging, and Thomson scattering, allow us to determine the structure and dynamics of this layer, the nature of the inflows and outflows, and the detailed energy partition during the reconnection process. We measure high electron and ion temperatures (T_{e}=100 eV, T_{i}=600 eV), far in excess of what can be attributed to classical (Spitzer) resistive and viscous dissipation. We observe the repeated formation and ejection of plasmoids, consistent with the predictions from semicollisional plasmoid theory.

Design calculations for a xenon plasma x-ray shield to protect the NIF optical Thomson scattering diagnostic.

An Optical Thomson Scattering (OTS) diagnostic is currently being developed for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This diagnostic is designed to make measurements of the hohlraum plasma parameters, such as the electron temperature and the density, during inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. NIF ICF experiments present a very challenging environment for optical measurements; by their very nature, hohlraums produce intense soft x-ray emission, which can cause "blanking" (radiation induced opacity) of the radiation facing optical components. The soft x-ray fluence at the surface of the OTS blast shield, 60 cm from the hohlraum, is estimated to be ∼8 J cm-2. This is significantly above the expected threshold for the onset of "blanking" effects. A novel xenon plasma x-ray shield is proposed to protect the blast shield from x-rays and mitigate "blanking." Estimates suggest that an areal density of 1019 cm-2 Xe atoms will be sufficient to absorb 99.5% of the soft x-ray flux. Two potential designs for this shield are presented.

The design of the optical Thomson scattering diagnostic for the National Ignition Facility.

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is a 192 laser beam facility designed to support the Stockpile Stewardship, High Energy Density and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) programs. We report on the design of an Optical Thomson Scattering (OTS) diagnostic that has the potential to transform the community's understanding of NIF hohlraum physics by providing first principle, local, time-resolved measurements of under-dense plasma conditions. The system design allows operation with different probe laser wavelengths by manual selection of the appropriate beam splitter and gratings before the shot. A deep-UV probe beam (λ0-210 nm) will be used to optimize the scattered signal for plasma densities of 5 × 1020 electrons/cm3 while a 3ω probe will be used for experiments investigating lower density plasmas of 1 × 1019 electrons/cm3. We report the phase I design of a two phase design strategy. Phase I includes the OTS telescope, spectrometer, and streak camera; these will be used to assess the background levels at NIF. Phase II will include the design and installation of a probe laser.

Structure of a Magnetic Flux Annihilation Layer Formed by the Collision of Supersonic, Magnetized Plasma Flows.

We present experiments characterizing the detailed structure of a current layer, generated by the collision of two counterstreaming, supersonic and magnetized aluminum plasma flows. The antiparallel magnetic fields advected by the flows are found to be mutually annihilated inside the layer, giving rise to a bifurcated current structure-two narrow current sheets running along the outside surfaces of the layer. Measurements with Thomson scattering show a fast outflow of plasma along the layer and a high ion temperature (T_{i}∼Z[over ¯]T_{e}, with average ionization Z[over ¯]=7). Analysis of the spatially resolved plasma parameters indicates that the advection and subsequent annihilation of the inflowing magnetic flux determines the structure of the layer, while the ion heating could be due to the development of kinetic, current-driven instabilities.

Monochromatic radiography of high energy density physics experiments on the MAGPIE generator.

A monochromatic X-ray backlighter based on Bragg reflection from a spherically bent quartz crystal has been developed for the MAGPIE pulsed power generator at Imperial College (1.4 MA, 240 ns) [I. H. Mitchell et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 67, 1533 (2005)]. This instrument has been used to diagnose high energy density physics experiments with 1.865 keV radiation (Silicon He-α) from a laser plasma source driven by a ∼7 J, 1 ns pulse from the Cerberus laser. The design of the diagnostic, its characterisation and performance, and initial results in which the instrument was used to radiograph a shock physics experiment on MAGPIE are discussed.

Diagnosing collisions of magnetized, high energy density plasma flows using a combination of collective Thomson scattering, Faraday rotation, and interferometry (invited).

A suite of laser based diagnostics is used to study interactions of magnetised, supersonic, radiatively cooled plasma flows produced using the Magpie pulse power generator (1.4 MA, 240 ns rise time). Collective optical Thomson scattering measures the time-resolved local flow velocity and temperature across 7-14 spatial positions. The scattering spectrum is recorded from multiple directions, allowing more accurate reconstruction of the flow velocity vectors. The areal electron density is measured using 2D interferometry; optimisation and analysis are discussed. The Faraday rotation diagnostic, operating at 1053 nm, measures the magnetic field distribution in the plasma. Measurements obtained simultaneously by these diagnostics are used to constrain analysis, increasing the accuracy of interpretation.

Interpenetration, deflection, and stagnation of cylindrically convergent magnetized supersonic tungsten plasma flows.

The interpenetration and interaction of supersonic, magnetized tungsten plasma flows has been directly observed via spatially and temporally resolved measurements of the Thomson scattering ion feature. A novel scattering geometry allows independent measurements of the axial and radial velocity components of the ions. The plasma flows are produced via the pulsed power driven ablation of fine tungsten wires in a cylindrical wire array z pinch. Fits of the data reveal the variations in radial velocity, axial velocity, and temperature of the ion streams as they interpenetrate and interact. A previously unobserved increase in axial velocity is measured near the array axis. This may be the result of v[over →]×B[over →] bending of the ion streams by a toroidal magnetic field, advected to and accumulated about the axis by the streams.

Optical Thomson scattering measurements of plasma parameters in the ablation stage of wire array Z pinches.

A Thomson scattering diagnostic has been used to measure the parameters of cylindrical wire array Z pinch plasmas during the ablation phase. The scattering operates in the collective regime (α>1) allowing spatially localized measurements of the ion or electron plasma temperatures and of the plasma bulk velocity. The ablation flow is found to accelerate towards the axis reaching peak velocities of 1.2-1.3×10(7) cm/s in aluminium and ∼1×10(7) cm/s in tungsten arrays. Precursor ion temperature measurements made shortly after formation are found to correspond to the kinetic energy of the converging ablation flow.