First results of radiation-driven, layered deuterium-tritium implosions with a 3-shock adiabat-shaped drive at the National Ignition Facility

Radiation-driven, layered deuterium-tritium plastic capsule implosions were carried out using a new, 3-shock adiabat-shaped drive on the National Ignition Facility. The purpose of adiabat shaping is to use a stronger first shock, reducing hydrodynamic instability growth in the ablator. The shock can decay before reaching the deuterium-tritium fuel leaving it on a low adiabat and allowing higher fuel compression. The fuel areal density was improved by similar to 25% with this new drive compared to similar high-foot implosions, while neutron yield was improved by more than 4 times, compared to low-foot implosions driven at the same compression and implosion velocity. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.