RESUMEN
The injection and mixing of contaminant mass into the fuel in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions is a primary factor preventing ignition. ICF experiments have recently achieved an alpha-heating regime, in which fusion self-heating is the dominant source of yield, by reducing the susceptibility of implosions to instabilities that inject this mass. We report the results of unique separated reactants implosion experiments studying pre-mixed contaminant as well as detailed high-resolution three-dimensional simulations that are in good agreement with experiments. At conditions relevant to mixing regions in high-yield implosions, we observe persistent chunks of contaminant that do not achieve thermal equilibrium with the fuel throughout the burn phase. The assumption of thermal equilibrium is made in nearly all computational ICF modeling and methods used to infer levels of contaminant from experiments. We estimate that these methods may underestimate the amount of contaminant by a factor of two or more.
RESUMEN
Faculty who desire to improve student learning through improved teaching have a variety of opportunities to address change. University educators have as a goal to improve the competence of graduates through improved teaching and learning in their institutions. This article draws upon the scholarship of obtaining feedback on teaching performance from a variety of sources and describes opportunities for young faculty to develop and enhance their skills in order to improve student learning. The experiences described can also serve as guidance for other faculty in their role as faculty mentors and for administrators in their role of supporting and encouraging improvements in the teaching/learning processes in their colleges and universities.