Laser-Driven Magnetic-Flux Compression: Theory and Experiments

Laser-Driven Flux Compression (LDFC) is a technique used to compress the magnetic field in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) targets driven by a laser. The compressed field in the ICF target is beneficial to the target performance. Embedding a magnetic field in a conventional ICF target reduces the heat loss if the central hot spot becomes magnetized. Higher hot spot temperatures lower the requirements on the implosion velocities, leading to larger shell masses and therefore higher energy gains. For a typical hot spot density of ∼ 10 g/cc, and temperature of ∼ 5 keV, a magnetic field B > 10 MG is required to magnetize the hot spot. Such a strong magnetic field is difficult to be externally generated. Instead of providing the strong magnetic field directly, a seed magnetic field much lower than the required field was provided and compressed by the imploding shell. The field needs to be compressed faster than its diffusion due to the finite resistivity of the fill gas and the shell. This requires the gas in the target being ionized by the shock so that the flux is frozen in the gas region and compressed by the imploding shell. In this thesis, theoretical models, numerical calculations, and basic experiments of flux compression in ICF targets are investigated. A measurable Lawson criterion, developed as a metric to assess the performance of an ICF target, is used to evaluate the benefits of suppressing the heat conductivity. A simple model is used to describe the process of field compression by shock waves during the shell implosion. The magnetohydrodynamics codes, LILAC-MHD and LILAC-MHD-SP, are used to simulate the field compression and the target performance. The Magneto-Inertial-Fusion-Electrical-Discharge-System (MIFEDS), the device providing the seed magnetic field, is described in detail. LDFC experiments using the OMEGA laser at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics are presented. The results include the first demonstration of ∼ 550-fold amplification of a 50 ∼ 60 kG seed field to a ∼ 30 MG compressed field using LDFC, and the first demonstration of 15% and 30 % ion temperature and neutron yield enhancement by compressed magnetic fields.