[en] High-speed fragments and their impacts on diagnostics, optics, and first wall components are of concern in high power laser facilities such as the future National Ignition Facility (USA) and Laser Megajoule (France). In recent years, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (USA), along with AWE (UK), and CEA (France) designed and conducted experiments on AWE's laser HELEN to characterize fragments generated in cylindrical targets irradiated by laser. CEA developed an original numerical strategy to model the experiments, intimately coupling two in-house codes: the one-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics code Delpor for a fine description of the laser-target interaction and the three-dimensional hydrodynamics code Hesione for a fully-coupled modeling of shock wave propagation, fracturing, and fragmentation. Simulations are run until three-dimensional fragments are visible. A comparison between experimental and numerical results is presented along with a parametric study on laser energy and target material composition. (authors)

[en] Since the early 1990's, the series of simulation code known as TSUNAMI has been the main tool employed to explore gas dynamics phenomena in thick-liquid protected inertial fusion target chambers. The applicability and user-friendliness of the code was recently extended through a set of MATLAB pre- and post-processing tools and graphical user interfaces [1]. Geometry, initial, and boundary conditions can be specified from within AutoCAD through a set of in-house AutoLISP graphical user interfaces. A novel MATLAB core was recently developed and tested, and is now routinely used with the user-friendly pre- and post-processors [2]. An overview of Visual Tsunami 2.0, the latest version of the code, is presented here. (authors)

[en] The debris and shrapnel generated by laser targets will play an increasingly major role in the operation of large laser facilities such as NIF, LMJ, and Orion. Past experience has shown that it is possible for such target debris/shrapnel to render diagnostics inoperable and also to penetrate or damage optical protection (debris) shields. We are developing the tools to evaluate target configurations, in order to better mitigate the generation and impact of debris/shrapnel, including development of dedicated modelling codes. In order to validate these predictive simulations, we briefly describe a series of experiments aimed at determining the amount of debris and/or shrapnel produced in controlled situations. We use glass plates and aerogel to capture generated debris/shrapnel. The experimental targets include hohlraums, halfraums, and thin foils in a variety of geometries. Post-shot analysis includes scanning electron microscopy and x-ray tomography. We show results from a few of these experiments and discuss related modelling efforts

[en] We present an overview of recent experiments fielded on the LIL facility. A key issue for mega-joule class laser facilities is shrapnel fragment generation. A specific collector was therefore developed to capture debris in aerogel and dedicated shots were done to quantitatively evaluate target fragmentation phenomena. The LIL panel of transmitted and backscattered light diagnostics is well suited for laser-plasma interaction (LPI) experiments. This include gas-filled hohlraum configurations relevant to Indirect Drive ignition targets in order to test the specific LMJ longitudinal SSD technique, as well as LPI experiments with foam targets for laser beam smoothing in underdense plasma in the context of Direct Drive. After Visar commissioning a campaign was dedicated to boron Equation of State (EOS).

[en] The generation of neutron/gamma radiation, electromagnetic pulses (EMP), debris and shrapnel at mega-Joule class laser facilities (NIF and LMJ) impacts experiments conducted at these facilities. The complex 3D numerical codes used to assess these impacts range from an established code that required minor modifications (MCNP - calculates neutron and gamma radiation levels in complex geometries), through a code that required significant modifications to treat new phenomena (EMSolve - calculates EMP from electrons escaping from laser targets), to a new code, ALE-AMR, that is being developed through a joint collaboration between LLNL, CEA, and UC (UCSD, UCLA, and LBL) for debris and shrapnel modelling.

[en] An updated, self-consistent point design for a heavy ion fusion (HIF) power plant based on an induction linac driver, indirect-drive targets, and a thick liquid wall chamber has been completed. Conservative parameters were selected to allow each design area to meet its functional requirements in a robust manner, and thus this design is referred to as the Robust Point Design (RPD-2002). This paper provides a top-level summary of the major characteristics and design parameters for the target, driver, final focus magnet layout and shielding, chamber, beam propagation to the target, and overall power plant