Fill-Tube-Induced Mass Perturbations on X-Ray-Driven, Ignition-Scale, Inertial-Confinement-Fusion Capsule Shells and the Implications for Ignition Experiments

G. R. Bennett, M. C. Herrmann, M. J. Edwards, B. K. Spears, C. A. Back, E. W. Breden, P. J. Christenson, M. E. Cuneo, K. L. Dannenburg, C. Frederick, K. L. Keller, T. D. Mulville, A. Nikroo, K. Peterson, J. L. Porter, C. O. Russell, D. B. Sinars, I. C. Smith, R. M. Stamm, and R. A. Vesey

Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 205003 – Published 13 November 2007

Abstract

On the first inertial-confinement-fusion ignition facility, the target capsule will be DT filled through a long, narrow tube inserted into the shell. $μ g$ -scale shell perturbations $Δ m^{'}$ arising from multiple, $10 - 50 μ m$ -diameter, hollow ${SiO}_{2}$ tubes on x-ray-driven, ignition-scale, 1-mg capsules have been measured on a subignition device. Simulations compare well with observation, whence it is corroborated that $Δ m^{'}$ arises from early x-ray shadowing by the tube rather than tube mass coupling to the shell, and inferred that $10 - 20 μ m$ tubes will negligibly affect fusion yield on a full-ignition facility.