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Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Simulation of the Planetary Interior Differentiation Processes in the Laboratory
Published on: November 15, 2013
Evidence of Three-Dimensional Asymmetries Seeded by High-Density Carbon-Ablator Nonuniformity in Experiments at the
D T Casey1, B J MacGowan1, J D Sater1
1Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
Abstract:
Inertial confinement fusion implosions must achieve high in-flight shell velocity, sufficient energy coupling between the hot spot and imploding shell, and high areal density (ρR=∫ρdr) at stagnation. Asymmetries in ρR degrade the coupling of shell kinetic energy to the hot spot and reduce the confinement of that energy. We present the first evidence that nonuniformity in the ablator shell thickness (∼0.5% of the total thickness) in high-density carbon experiments is a significant cause for observed 3D ρR asymmetries at the National Ignition Facility. These shell-thickness nonuniformities have significantly impacted some recent experiments leading to ρR asymmetries on the order of ∼25% of the average ρR and hot spot velocities of ∼100 km/s. This work reveals the origin of a significant implosion performance degradation in ignition experiments and places stringent new requirements on capsule thickness metrology and symmetry.
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