High yield ICF target design for a Z-pinch driven hohlraum

We describe calculations for a high yield inertial fusion design, employing indirect drive with a double-ended z-pinch-driven hohlraum radiation source. A high current (∼60 MA) accelerator implodes z-pinches within an enclosing hohlraum. Radial spoke arrays and shine shields isolate the capsule from the pinch plasma, magnetic field and direct x-ray shine. Our approach places minimal requirements on z-pinch uniformity and stability, usually problematic due to magneto-Rayleigh Taylor (MRT) instability. Large inhomogeneities of the pinch and spoke array may be present, but the hohlraum adequately smooths the radiation field at the capsule. Simultaneity and reproducibility of the pinch x-ray output to better than 7% are required, however, for good symmetry. Recent experiments suggest a pulse shaping technique, through implosion of a multishell z-pinch. X-ray bursts are calculated and observed to occur at each shell collision. A capsule absorbing 1 MJ of x-rays at a peak drive temperature of 210 eV is found to have adequate stability and to produce 400 MJ of yield