Dynamic hohlraum radiation hydrodynamics

Z-pinch dynamic hohlraums are a promising indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion approach. Comparison of multiple experimental methods with integrated Z-pinch/hohlraum/capsule computer simulations builds understanding of the hohlraum interior conditions. Time-resolved x-ray images determine the motion of the radiating shock that heats the hohlraum as it propagates toward the hohlraum axis. The images also measure the radius of radiation-driven capsules as they implode. Dynamic hohlraum LASNEX [G. Zimmerman and W. Kruer, Comments Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 2, 85 (1975)] simulations are found to overpredict the shock velocity by similar to 20-40%, but simulated capsule implosion trajectories agree reasonably well with the data. Measurements of the capsule implosion core conditions using time- and space-resolved Ar tracer x-ray spectroscopy and the fusion neutron yield provide additional tests of the integrated hohlraum-implosion system understanding. The neutron yield in the highest performing CH capsule implosions is similar to 20-30% of the yield calculated with unperturbed 2D LASNEX simulations. The emissivity-averaged electron temperature and density peak at approximately 900 eV and 4x10(23) cm(-3), respectively. Synthetic spectra produced by postprocessing 1D LASNEX capsule implosion simulations possess spectral features from H-like and He-like Ar that are similar in duration to the measured spectra. However, the simulation emissivity-averaged density peaks at a value that is four times lower than the experiment, while the temperature is approximately 1.6 times higher. The agreement with the capsule trajectory measurements and the ability to design capsule implosions that routinely produce implosion cores hot and dense enough to emit fusion neutrons and Ar spectra are evidence for a respectable degree of dynamic hohlraum understanding. The hohlraum shock velocity and implosion core discrepancies imply that calculations of the hohlraum radiation driving capsule implosions require further refinement. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.