[en] In the past thirty-six months, great progress has been made in x-ray production using high-current z-pinches. Today, the x-ray energy and power output of the Z accelerator (formerly PBFA-II) is the largest available in the laboratory. These z-pinch x-ray sources have the potential to drive high-yield ICF reactions at affordable cost if several challenging technical problems can be overcome. In this paper, the recent technical progress with Z-pinches will be described, and a technical strategy for achieving high-yield ICF with z-pinches will be presented

[en] The National Ignition Facility (NIF), the world's most powerful laser system, is being built at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to study inertial fusion and high-energy-density science. This billion-dollar facility consists of 192 beams focusing 1.8 MJ on a fusion target. The Final Optics Assembly (FOA), the last mechanical apparatus before the target chamber, converts the light from an incoming frequency of 1 ω to ia target-ready 3 ω, and focuses the laser beam. The performance of the frequency conversion crystals is very sensitive to temperature changes; crystal temperature must be maintained within a 0.1 C of a nominal temperature prior to a laser shot. Maximizing system availability requires minimizing thermal recovery times after thermal disturbances occurring in both normal and maintenance operations. To guide the design, it is important to have estimates of those recovery times. This report presents Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) design calculations to evaluate thermal effects of maintenance operations

[en] The X-1 Advanced Radiation Source, which will produce ∼ 16 MJ in x-rays, represents the next step in providing US Department of Energy's Stockpile Stewardship program with the high-energy, large volume, laboratory x-ray sources needed for the Radiation Effects Science and Simulation (RES), Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), and Weapon Physics (WP) Programs. Advances in fast pulsed power technology and in z-pinch hohlraums on Sandia National Laboratories' Z Accelerator in 1997 provide sufficient basis for pursuing the development of X-1. This paper will introduce the X-1 Advanced Radiation Source Facility Project, describe the systems analysis and engineering approach being used, and identify critical technology areas being researched

[en] Experiments were performed at SATURN, a high current z-pinch, to explore the feasibility of creating a hohlraum by imploding a tungsten wire array onto a low-density foam. Emission measurements in the 200--280 eV energy band were consistent with a 110--135 eV Planckian before the target shock heated, or stagnated, on-axis. Peak pinch radiation temperatures of nominally 160 eV were obtained. Measured early time x-ray emission histories and temperature estimates agree well with modeled performance in the 200--280 eV band using a 2D radiation magneto-hydrodynamics code. However, significant differences are observed in comparisons of the x-ray images and 2D simulations

[en] The authors are developing a new shock wave diagnostic using Z pinch sources for high-pressure equation of state (EOS) measurements. Specifically, they are employing VISAR interferometry to measure the particle velocity of shocked materials and fiber optic probes to measure the shock speed. Combination of these measurements will allow absolute EOS data with Z accelerators. This report is a progress report on the development of this new approach to EOS measurements; however, preliminary data obtained with the diagnostics are encouraging. With further development of Z pinch sources, it is envisioned that a variety of EOS and constitutive property measurements can be made. Time-resolved wave profile measurements will then provide a variety of EOS and material property data, such as isentropic EOS, initial compressive strength and shock-induced compressive strength, dynamic tensile strength, kinetics of phase transitions, and surface stability studies

[en] The evolution of the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability at an embedded, or classical, interface is examined in a series of experiments at the Nova laserfacility .[reference for Nova] These experiments focused on the transition from the linear to nonlinear regimes for both single- and multimode initialperturbations. The development of a single mode at the embedded interface is compared to its evolution at an ablation front and the effect of ablativestabilization is experimentally demonstrated. The multimode experiments have shown evidence of the process of bubble competition, whereinneighboring structures either continue to rise or are washed downstream in the flow depending upon their relative size. The experiments with simulations performed with either the LASNEX are comparedcode [G. B.Zimmerman and W. L. Kruer, Comments Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 2,51 (1975).], a two-dimensional Lagrangian radiation-hydrodynamics code, or CALE [R. Tipton, reference for CALE], a two-dimensional arbitrary Lagrange-Eulerian radiation-hydrodynamics code

[en] The purpose of the NIF Site Management Plan is to describe the roles, responsibilities, and interfaces for the major NIF Project organizations involved in construction of the facility, installation and acceptance testing of special equipment, and the NIF activation. The plan also describes the resolution of priorities and conflicts. The period covered is from Critical Decision 3 (CD3) through the completion of the Project. The plan is to be applied in a stepped manner. The steps are dependent on different elements of the project being passed from the Conventional Facilities (CF) Construction Manager (CM), to the Special Equipment (SE) CMs, and finally to the Activation/ Start-Up (AS) CM. These steps are defined as follows: The site will be coordinated by CF through Project Milestone 310, end of conventional construction. The site is defined as the fenced area surrounding the facility and the CF laydown and storage areas. The building utilities that are installed by CF will be coordinated by CF through the completion of Project Milestone 310, end of conventional construction. The building utilities are defined as electricity, compressed air, de-ionized water, etc. Upon completion of the CF work, the Optics Assembly Building/Laser and Target Area Building (OAB/LTAB) will be fully operational. At that time, an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Program building coordinator will become responsible for utilities and site activities. * Step 1. Mid-commissioning (temperature stable, +1 degree C) of an area (e.g., Laser Bay 2, OAB) will precipitate the turnover of that area (within the four walls) from CF to SE. * Step 2. Interior to the turned-over space, SE will manage all interactions, including those necessary by CF. * Step 3. As the SE acceptance testing procedures (ATPS) are completed, AS will take over the management of the area and coordinate all interactions necessary by CF and SE. For each step, the corresponding CMs for CF, SE, or AS will be placed in charge of the integrated activities within a space. That responsible manager will ensure that a work flow for people, equipment, and materials has been addressed and that a work plan has been formulated. The manager will also establish work priorities and resolve conflicts

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