LLE Infers 200 mg/cm2 Fuel Areal Density

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2007:

On 17 April 2007, LLE scientists completed a National Ignition Campaign (NIC) Level-2 milestone when a neutron-burn-averaged areal density of 202+/-7 mg/cm2 was measured for the first time from a direct-drive cryogenic D2 implosion on OMEGA. This demonstrated that hydrogen could be compressed to ignition-relevant densities using laser-driven capsules.

Image shown is an Optical shadowgraph showing a 2.4-μm rms inner-ice-surface roughness of a cryogenic D2 capsule

Active Shock Breakout (ASBO) Upgrade

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2006:

A year-long project to upgrade the ASBO diagnostic was completed in April 2006. The ASBO diagnostic measures the timing of shock waves inside an imploding cryogenic D2 sphere. Using the existing system as a baseline, a new optical layout was conceived that uses two Rochester Optical Streak System (ROSS) streak cameras as detectors for the two VISARchannels. The result was an outstanding optical device that provides excellent optical performance and smooth operation using the accurately calibrated ROSS cameras.

Cryogenic DT Target Experiments

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2006:

The first direct-drive, ignition-scaled, cryogenic target containing tritium was imploded on the OMEGA laser in February 2006. The target contained 0.06% tritium by atom fraction. This implosion was the first in a series of planned experiments that led to LLE scientists imploding two fully β-layered DT capsules during the week of 27 March 2006. The tritium fraction in each capsule was 13.5%. Both capsules were layered without external IR radiation, confirming earlier estimates that a tritium fraction of ~10% would be sufficient for β-layered to occur. This is the first time that a β-layered arget was used in a laser-driven implosion.

Shadowgraph of a β-layered target containing ~35% tritium

National Ignition Campaign Milestone Achieved

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2006:

Scientists at LLE and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory completed a National Ignition Campaign milestone on 17 August 2006 dealing with hohlraum energetics experiments with elliptical phase plates. A set of 43 elliptical phase plates (E-IDI300) were designed and manufactured for these OMEGA experiments. Seven scale-1, thin-walled, gold hohlraums were irradiated with 40 beams smoothed with E-IDI-300 phase plates. Several gas fills were investigated. High-Zdopants were introduced into the gas fills to reduce hard x-ray production and laser scattering levels. The hohlraum energetics were measured for a 13.5-kJ-shaped laser pulse (PS26) with the following diagnostics: Dante, full-aperture backscatter, near-backscatter imaging, gated hard x-ray imaging, gated soft x-ray imaging, and the hard x-ray detector. The peak radiation temperature Tr inferred from the measured levels of the x-ray flux increased by 17 eV when the laser beams were smoothed with phase plates. The improved coupling was a consequence of reduced laser-scattering losses.

 

A half-hohlraum target used on an LLE-directed indirect-drive experiment in support of the National Ignition Campaign

The ROSS Streak Camera

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2005:

LLE licensed the Rochester Optical Streak System (ROSS) technology to Sydor Instruments, LLC, a Rochester-based business, to commercialize the technology for use in research around the world. Sydor Instruments was founded in 2004 to commercialize such high-precision instruments by transferring technology from laser research programs that develop new instrument technology to other laser research programs in need of measuring new levels of performance. Sydor hailed the ROSS as the “streak camera for the next 30 years.”

The ROSS was developed by LLE to meet the high-speed data collection needs of the Laboratory’s laser-fusion experiments program on the OMEGA laser. The ROSS camera can record transient events with a time resolution better than 5 ps. The ROSS system employs a patented automatic self-calibration technique that achieves 1% measurement accuracy. Eight prototype ROSS systems have operated on OMEGA experiments for more than five years, accumulating more than a half million streak measurements with better than 99.9% reliability.

Riccardo Betti next to 2 insets

University Hosts DOE Fusion Science Center

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2005:

The U.S. Department of Energy chose the University of Rochester to host one of two Fusion Science Centers (FSC). The FSC for Extreme States of Matter will develop an understanding of the physics of creating extreme states of matter using a combination of high-energy drivers (compression) and high-intensity lasers (heating). The work will culminate in integrated experiments using both aspects. These experiments will be conducted at the major national high-energy-density (HED) science facilities (OMEGA EP, NIF, and Z Facility) in a synergistic relationship with a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) initiative for short-pulse HED science. The Center will bring academic scientists from around the country into a collaboration that will foster rapid progress in this exciting field. It will also provide support for graduate students and post-doctoral research associates as well as organize workshops and a summer school in high-energy-density physics. A major long-term goal is to study fast ignition as a potential future energy source.

Photograph of Dr. Riccardo Betti, Director, University of Rochester Fusion Science Center

Neutron Imaging of Cryogenic D2 Capsules

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2005:

Neutron images of cryogenic D2-filled imploded capsules were obtained on OMEGA for the first time in a collaborative experiment with scientists from the Commissariat à l’énergie Atomique (CEA) of France.

CEA developed penumbral- and ring-aperture neutron imaging on OMEGA

OMEGA EP Building Dedication

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2005:

In May 2005, LLE dedicated the Robert L. Sproull Center for Ultra High Intensity Laser Research. This facility was named in honor of the University’s seventh president and houses the OMEGA EP Laser System. The Laboratory for Laser Energetics became a leading center for laser research under Dr. Sproull’s leadership. Dr. Sproull firmly believed that LLE would become a venue for training future generations of scientists and researchers, as well as the world-class facility that it is today.

Photograph of Dr. Robert L. Sproull in front of the Robert L. Sproull Center for Ultra High Intensity Laser Research

OMEGA EP Building Construction Completed

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2004:

The OMEGA EP building construction was completed in December 2004. This facility was completed in 2008.

Image shown is a View of the OMEGA EP Laser Bay from the visitors gallery

Defense Programs Award of Excellence

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2004:

On 18 August 2004, Capt. Steven J. Loucks (USN Ret.), LLE Deputy Director and the Director of the LLE Engineering and Administrative Divisions, received the Defense Programs Award of Excellence from Dr. Everet H. Beckner, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs of the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The Award was presented to Capt. Loucks for outstanding project management and operational performance of the OMEGA Laser Facility. This prestigious award is usually given to someone from a national laboratory. Only one or two such awards are given annually.

Shown here is The Defense Programs Award of Excellence