Summary of the first neutron image data collected at the National Ignition Facility

¹ Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
² Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
³ National Security Technologies, Livermore Operations, Livermore CA 94550, USA
⁴ National Security Technologies, Los Alamos Operations, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
⁵ National Security Technologies, Special Technology Laboratory, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, USA
⁶ Global Nuclear Fuel, Wilmington, North Carolina 28402, USA

^a e-mail: gpgrim@lanl.gov

Published online: 15 November 2013

Abstract

A summary of data and results from the first neutron images produced by the National Ignition Facility (NIF), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA are presented. An overview of the neutron imaging technique is presented, as well as a synopsis of data and measurements made to date. Data from directly driven, DT filled microballoons, as well as indirectly driven, cryogenically layered ignition experiments are presented. The data show that the primary cores from directly driven implosions are approximately twice as large, 64 ± 3 μm, as indirectly driven cores, 25 ± 4 and 29 ± 4 μm and more asymmetric, P2/P0 = 47% vs. − 14% and 7%. Further, comparison with the size and shape of X-ray image data on the same implosions show good agreement, indicating X-ray emission is dominated by the hot regions of the implosion.