Defects on inertial confinement fusion capsule surfaces can seed hydrodynamic instability growth and adversely affect capsule performance. The dynamics of shocks launched during the early period of x-ray driven National Ignition Facility (NIF) implosions determine whether perturbations will grow inward or outward at peak implosion velocity and final compression. In particular, the strength of the first shock, launched at the beginning of the laser pulse, plays an important role in determining Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) oscillations on the ablation front. These surface oscillations can couple to the capsule interior through subsequent shocks before experiencing Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) growth. We compare radiation hydrodynamic simulations of NIF implosions to analytic theories of the ablative RM and RT instabilities to illustrate how early time laser strength can alter peak velocity growth. We develop a model that couples the RM and RT implosion phases and captures key features of full simulations. We also show how three key parameters can control the modal demarcation between outward and inward growth.
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September 2014
Research Article|
September 26 2014
The effects of early time laser drive on hydrodynamic instability growth in National Ignition Facility implosions
J. L. Peterson;
J. L. Peterson
1
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
, Livermore, California 94550, USA
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D. S. Clark;
D. S. Clark
1
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
, Livermore, California 94550, USA
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L. P. Masse;
L. P. Masse
2
CEA, DAM, DIF
, 91297 Arpajon, France
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L. J. Suter
L. J. Suter
1
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
, Livermore, California 94550, USA
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Phys. Plasmas 21, 092710 (2014)
Article history
Received:
June 26 2014
Accepted:
September 10 2014
Citation
J. L. Peterson, D. S. Clark, L. P. Masse, L. J. Suter; The effects of early time laser drive on hydrodynamic instability growth in National Ignition Facility implosions. Phys. Plasmas 1 September 2014; 21 (9): 092710. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4896708
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