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.