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Spiers BT, Hill MP, Brown C, Ceurvorst L, Ratan N, Savin AF, Allan P, Floyd E, Fyrth J, Hobbs L, James S, Luis J, Ramsay M, Sircombe N, Skidmore J, Aboushelbaya R, Mayr MW, Paddock R, Wang RHW, Norreys PA. Whole-beam self-focusing in fusion-relevant plasma. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2021; 379:20200159. [PMID: 33280566 PMCID: PMC7741010 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fast ignition inertial confinement fusion requires the production of a low-density channel in plasma with density scale-lengths of several hundred microns. The channel assists in the propagation of an ultra-intense laser pulse used to generate fast electrons which form a hot spot on the side of pre-compressed fusion fuel. We present a systematic characterization of an expanding laser-produced plasma using optical interferometry, benchmarked against three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations. Magnetic fields associated with channel formation are probed using proton radiography, and compared to magnetic field structures generated in full-scale particle-in-cell simulations. We present observations of long-lived, straight channels produced by the Habara-Kodama-Tanaka whole-beam self-focusing mechanism, overcoming a critical barrier on the path to realizing fast ignition. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. T. Spiers
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - M. P. Hill
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - C. Brown
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - L. Ceurvorst
- CELIA, Université de Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, Talence, France
| | - N. Ratan
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - A. F. Savin
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - P. Allan
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - E. Floyd
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - J. Fyrth
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - L. Hobbs
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - S. James
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - J. Luis
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - M. Ramsay
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - N. Sircombe
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | - J. Skidmore
- Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, UK
| | | | - M. W. Mayr
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R. Paddock
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R. H. W. Wang
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - P. A. Norreys
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- UKRI-STFC Central Laser Facility, Didcot, UK
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