Computer-assisted microballoon selection for inertial confinement fusion targets

Current inertial confinement fusion experiments require large numbers of well-characterized microballoon targets. Microballoons are batch-produced, and balloons of target quality are selected based on several parameters: outside diameter, wall thickness, and wall concentricity. Selection and characterization of these targets is a labor intensive process. We have developed a computer-controlled microballoon selection system that allows us to select microballoons five times faster than our previous methods with less operator fatigue and with less emphasis on operator skill