An investigation of the opacity of high-Z mixture and implications for inertial confinement fusion hohlraum design

We use an unresolved transition array model to investigate the opacities of high-Z materials and their mixtures which are of interest to indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion hohlraum design. In particular, we report on calculated opacities for pure Au, Gd, and Sm, as well as Au-Sm and Au-Gd mixtures. Our results indicate that mixtures of Au-Gd and Au-Sm can produce a significant enhancement in the Rosseland mean opacity. Radiation hydrodynamics simulations of Au radiation burnthrough are also presented, and compared with NOVA experimental data. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.