icf & high energy density (hed) research within the nnsa fusion power associates symposium...

ICF & High Energy Density (HED) Research Within the NNSA

Fusion Power Associates Symposium December 2-3, 2010

Washington, DC

Dr. Allan A. HauerChief Scientist,

Stockpile Stewardship Program

National Nuclear Security AdministrationUS Dept. of Energy

2Fusion Power Associates 12-3-09Fusion Power Associates 12-2-10

Three major DOE missions rely on excellence in High Energy Density Physics (HED)

for success• National Security

– Stockpile Stewardship• Certification with advanced predictive capability validated by

sophisticated experiments

– Protecting against technological surprise• Maintaining preeminence in HED Science

• Fundamental Science– Stewardship of HED

• Joint programs with the Office of Science – Cross-cut with materials science mission

• Advanced measurements on NIF, Z and potential new capabilities

• Energy– Inertial Fusion Energy Sciences energy-related HED

• Potential development of advanced fusion concepts with dual use applications


After the explosive phase, weapons rapidly evolve into the HED and plasma regimes

(UGTs, sub-crits, DARHT, JASPER, etc)

HE phaseHigh explosive creates supercritical assembly

Primary phaseSuper-critical assembly

Primary energy production

Pre-nuclear phase

Energy transferX-rays transfer energy from

primary to secondary

Secondary phaseSecondary produces energy,

explosion and radiationNuclear Phase(UGTs NIF and, Z)

Weapons operation proceeds through the conditions of planetaryinteriors, to stellar interiors

Relevant laboratory expts. are performed throughout the HED phase


High Energy Density Physics is a key discipline underpinning Stockpile Stewardship

• Extreme conditions in temperature, density, pressure allow investigation of a large span of

physical states.

• These extreme conditions are required to meet national security needs but also enable

contributions to a broad span of basics physics including astrophysics, materials in extreme

conditions and many other sub-disciplines.

• Stewardship of HED and plasma science provides essential support for the NNSA mission.


Extraordinary new HED capabilities are now in place

• National Ignition Facility (NIF)– Only access to burning plasma conditions– Important mission experiments have already been performed

• Omega EP– Sophisticated high irradiance capabilities– Important venue for advanced fusion research

• Z Machine– Key venue for materials science measurements – Outstanding new results at 4 Mbar.

• Enormous increase in computational power compliments experimental capability

•


Static 10–4 – 102 s–1 102 – 105 s–1 105 – 109 s–1

nm

µm

m

e–

Continuum

Microscale

Atomic Scale

Advanced Materials Science has proved to Advanced Materials Science has proved to

be a fruitful application for ICF facilitiesbe a fruitful application for ICF facilities

Strain Rates

Le

ng

th s

ca

les

Experimental platformsExperimental platforms

Gas Gun

Pulsed power Pulsed power

Lasers Lasers

DACDAC

Pressure

Computational science and experimental science must be integrated from the atomic- to the continuum-level to predict the properties of materials under extreme conditions


NNSA mission needs have driven the creation of HEDP environments that are ideal to study

complex HED plasmas and materials

Mass Outflow

High Mach Number unstable flows

Jets

Rayleigh TaylorInstabilities

MHD, thermo-electric, and “anomalous” heatingShocks and radiation transport

Materials in the Extreme


NNSA continues to support the advancement of High Energy Density Basic Science

• ReNew Workshop Chaired by Prof. Bob Rosner has

completed its report

• NIF has completed a successful competitive process

for identifying basic science projects to be undertaken

in the next few years

• A new solicitation for HED science proposals will be

issued jointly with OFES in 2011.

• Office of Science / NNSA Workshop on the research

directions for Science on NIF will be held in spring 11.


Proposals Selected in the NIF process spanand exciting spectrum of scientific questions


The pursuit of ignition will dominate the agenda at NIF through 2012

• 3 major series of ignition experiments are planned for 2010-2012.

– The plan is to transition to development of an “ignition weapons physics platform” – This “platform” development shares many common goals with energy

research• Robust operation, moderate to high gain

• The diagnostic suite will be rapidly evolving during this period.

– Installation of Neutron imaging began in 2010

– Several beam lines of the ARC backlighting system will be available in 2012.

– Detailed burn history measurements were begun in 2010

– Diagnostics that may be unique to the energy mission should be under

consideration now.

The schedule for the first ignition attempts is somewhat behind

the projection presented at the ‘09 FPA meeting


Cryogenically layered (THD) target experiments have begun

• X-ray image created from 20-30frames each taking » 4 sec tocapture for » 2 minutes total• Temperature: 18K ±0.001Kcontrol• Target position stability forX-ray imaging : < 2 microns

• X-ray of THD cryo layer


The achievement of igniting conditions will open new frontiers in

plasma research

• Plasma temperatures > 20 keV ; compressed densities > 1000

gm / cm2 ; pressures ~ 1 Tbar

• The high performance implosions needed for ignition can

also be employed in a variety of non-ignition basic science

investigations.

– Planetary and astrophysics

– Materials under extreme conditions

• Performing detailed measurements under igniting

conditions will present a considerable diagnostic challenge.


The pursuit of ignition will dominate the agenda at NIF through 2012

• Detailed diagnostics that operate during an ignition shot remain a major challenge. Excellent progress has been made in ignition diagnostics to this point.

• A successful ignition shot will mandate a 1-2 week suspension of experimental operations at NIF.


Ignition experiments must demonstrate repeatable performance to satisfy both

weapons and energy applications

• The ultimate “control levels” required for various tuning operations (such as drive symmetry) must be demonstrated i.e. “in practice what are the most sensitive parameters ?”

• Can ignition gain levels be controlled through planned variation in laser or target parameters ?

• Is there a fundamental “floor” to the variability in gain ?

Weapons and energy applications of ignition will require much more than passing the threshold of TN

performance

16Fusion Power Associates 12-3-09

Los Alamos NIF Neutron imager is tested and calibrated on Omega

2 axis / 2 image systemwill allow simultaneousprimary(14-MeV )and downscattered(10-12 MeV ) imaging.

Future testing of NI will likely involve polar direct drive capsulesthus advancing both basic science and diagnostic development


Nuclear diagnostics are being developed to enable precision measurements of

capsule conditions

Triton + 9Be ablator (t,α) reactionsdistinguish different types of mix.

t+ 9Be -> α + 8Li + β ( 13 MeV, 840 ms)

NIF full Yield - 8Li productionNo Mix Chunk Mix Atomic Mix1E12 3E12 1E14

Debris collector& β counter.

Ignited DT fuel

Mix regiont+ 9Be

A double reaction is used to diagnose mix: n + t t*

t + shell -> mix β


Inertial Fusion Energy 2010

• Fusion Energy – no carbon dioxide, modest nuclear waste,

• 50 years of exploration – ignition imminent at NIF• NAS to provide recommendations on IFE priorities• Timeline and demonstration potentially similar to

ITER


User Facilities and Shared National Resources – an important component of

the future of NNSA facilities

• Strengthening the HED science base is an essential part of

the NNSA mission and a responsibility to the nation.

• 15% of facility time devoted to basic science is a goal.

• Mission oriented work will still dominate the agenda for the

foreseeable future.

• Uniform policies and procedures will give a clear picture to

the international science community and to our sponsors

• A broader constituency for our facilities is attractive to

substantial segments of congress.

Thus far, consideration of basic science (beyond the weaponsmission) has been in the general realm of HED


Organizing and planning principles beyond the ignition demonstration

• Formulation of the national agenda for HED weapons physics is now well established – 5 Year Plan has been completed – will be continually updated – This will evolve to one of the key source documents for the PCF

• Weapons requirements will continue to dominate the agenda at the major NNSA facilities – A close collaboration and cooperation will be formed between

NNSA and the DOE Office of Science to formulate the broader scientific agenda (~15% of facility time).

• NNSA will provide help to the Office of Science in Preparing for the NAS review of IFE.

• Utilization of the major NNSA facilities will be guided by a uniform national policy


After robust ignition is demonstrated, advanced fusion concepts will be considered

• Double shell ignition

– Many desirable characteristics

• Fast ignition – Potentially higher gain

• Shock ignition

• Direct Drive – Potentially higher gain

– Potentially greater physical access to the burning plasma

• Operation at 2 – Potentially > 3 MJ available


ICF and other NNSA Drivers will enable a wide range of “cross cutting” research

• Materials science under extreme conditions has a

wide spectrum of applications– Fusion materials measurements are another link between weapons

requirements and IFE

• Laboratory astrophysics on Lasers (NIF and Omega)

and Z is a burgeoning field


Pulsed power has had considerable success in advanced materials measurements in

addition to its work in fusion

22 MJ stored energy26 MA peak current100-300 ns pulse length

300 TW, 3 MJ x-ray source10-100 Mbar pressures


Advanced materials work on lasers, pulsed power and accelerators links with the IFE mission


NNSA supports HED facilities of varying scale

• Large facilities – NIF, OMEGA, Z– Most extreme conditions, complex experimental setups, large

operations crews, few hands-on opportunities

• Intermediate Scale – Trident, Jupiter, Zebra, …– Modest operations crew, hands-on opportunities

• University Scale – Texas Petawatt, OSU high rep. rate, …– Small operations crew, serve as a basic training ground for new

students, many hands-on opportunities

In many cases, experiments will progress from small to intermediate to large scale facilities

Smaller scale work will also continue to play a role in IFE


NNSA relies on intermediate scaleplasma science facilities for basic science support

Intermediate-size plasma facilities provide both direct and indirect mission support, and we are encouraging user access at our

intermediate facilities

Examples of intermediate size plasma facilities:

• Jupiter at LLNL (lasers): support of NIC and NIF; mission; users

• Trident at LANL (laser): support of NIF and NIC; mission; users

• Texas Petawatt at UTX (laser): discovery-driven research; users

• Z-Beamlet / Z Petawatt at SNL (laser): diagnostic for ZR; users

• Nevada Terawatt at UNR: pulsed power


IFE / interaction points between NNSA and OFES

• As data on ignition comes in it will be utilized to guide some aspects of IFE planning – NNSA responsibility to make this information

readily available as soon as feasible• OFES will take the lead in some aspects of

“advanced ICF”– Shock ignition– Fast ignition

• As IFE plans solidify more NNSA facility time for this work may be justified.


Conclusions

• The achievement of ignition will provide a significant

catalyst to all of HED and IFE in particular

• It will also present specific challenges – the specific

constraints of reliable ignition production

• Current collaborative interactions between OFES and

NNSA are very promising precursors to even stronger

collaborations on national challenges such as energy


Backup slides


Where the Engineering Test Facility might fit in the development path for fusion energy

500 kJ FTF

Single 5 Hz FTF beamline engages injected targets

Stage I : Develop full size components• Laser module (e.g. 17 kJ, 5 Hz KrF beamline)• Target fabrication/injection/tracking• Chamber, optics technologies• Refine target physics• Power plant/FTF design

Stage II 100 MW Engineering Test Facility (ETF)• Demo physics / technologies for a power plant

• G: 7 - 10 , G: 100 - 140• Tritium breeding, power handling• Develop/ validate fusion materials• Operating: ~2025

Stage III Prototype Power plant(s)• Electricity to the grid• Transitioned to private industry


High energy lasers have been used to extend solid state physics to the 10 Mbar

regimeRamp compression shows diamond is stable and strong to 8Mbar

Ramp laser intensity to produce shockless compression

•Edwards, et al. (PRL 04)•Smith, et al. (PRL 06)•Bradley, et al. (PRL 08)•Eggert et al. (SCCM 07)

NIF designs use the same technique to study solids to many >30 Mbar

8

4

0P

ress

ure

(M

bar

)654

Density (g/cc)Bradley et al

New cold-solid-state ramp compressed data

Calculated Cold curve

Diamond cell data


High energy lasers have been used to extend solid state physics to the 10 Mbar

regimeRamp compression shows diamond is stable and strong to 8Mbar

NIF designs use the same technique to study solids to many >30 Mbar

8

4

0

Pre

ssu

re (

Mb

ar)

654

Density (g/cc)Bradley et al

New cold-solid-state ramp compressed data

Calculated Cold curve

Diamond cell data

Diffraction for structure & strength=>Fe is HCP to 5 Mbar

EXAFS is being used to measure T & structure in Fe to 3 Mbar

32

Fe data at 3 Mbar

Electron wavenumber (A-1)3 5 7 9

Fe Data at 5 Mbar Eggertet al

Hicks et al


High Energy Density Physics is the Cornerstone of Science at NIF, Omega and Z


The role of intermediate scale facilities is a crucial planning issue

• A consistent picture of the value of intermediate

facilities has emerged from the academic community

– Value of “hands on” experience in training and education

– The need for staging, prototyping and calibration for work at

the large facilities.

• Finding a funding pattern will be a challenge but a preliminary effort will be attempted

icf & high energy density (hed) research within the nnsa fusion power associates symposium...

Documents