Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

Research and Development of High-performance Explosives
Published on: February 20, 2016
Performance of high-convergence, layered DT implosions with extended-duration pulses at the National Ignition
V A Smalyuk1, L J Atherton, L R Benedetti
1Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
Abstract:
Radiation-driven, low-adiabat, cryogenic DT layered plastic capsule implosions were carried out on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to study the sensitivity of performance to peak power and drive duration. An implosion with extended drive and at reduced peak power of 350 TW achieved the highest compression with fuel areal density of ~1.3±0.1 g/cm2, representing a significant step from previously measured ~1.0 g/cm2 toward a goal of 1.5 g/cm2. Future experiments will focus on understanding and mitigating hydrodynamic instabilities and mix, and improving symmetry required to reach the threshold for thermonuclear ignition on NIF.
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