LLE Infers 200 mg/cm2 Fuel Areal Density
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
