[en] Generation of debris from targets and by x-ray ablation of surrounding materials will be a matter of concern for experimenters and National Ignition Facility (NIF) operations. Target chamber and final optics protection, for example debris shield damage, drive the interest for NIF operations. Experimenters are primarily concerned with diagnostic survivability, separation of mechanical versus radiation induced test object response in the case of effects tests, and radiation transport through the debris field when the net radiation output is used to benchmark computer codes. In addition, radiochemical analysis of activated capsule debris during ignition shots can provide a measure of the ablator <ρr>. Conceptual design of the Debris Monitor and Rad-Chem Station, one of the NIF core diagnostics, is presented. Methods of debris collection, particle size and mass analysis, impulse measurement, and radiochemical analysis are given. A description of recent experiments involving debris collection and impulse measurement on the OMEGA and Pharos lasers is also provided

[en] A Compact Torus Accelerator (CTA) is used to accelerate a Compact Torus (CT) to 35 MJ kinetic energy which is focused to a 20 mm diameter where its kinetic energy is converted to a shaped x-ray pulse of 30 MJ. The capsule yield with a prescribed radiation profile is calculated to be (gain 60 times 30 MJ) 1.8 GJ. Schemes for achieving this profile are described. The CT is accelerated in a length of 30 m within an annulus of 150 mm ID and 300 mm OD where the maximum magnetic field is 28 T. A 2.5 m conical taper reduces the mean diameter of the CT from 225 mm to 20 mm. The conical section is made out of solid Li₂BeF₄. The target with its frozen conical guide section is accurately placed at the end of the accelerator about once per second. The reactor called HYLIFE uses liquid jets to attenuate blast effects including shrapnel from the shattered conical guide section and radiation so that the vessel is expected to last 30 years. The calculated cost of electricity is estimated (in constant 1988 dollars) to be about 4.8 cents/kW · h compared to the future cost of nuclear and coal of 4.3 to 5.8 cents/kW · h. The CT driver contributes 17% to the cost of electricity. Present CT's make 2 x 10⁸ W/cm²; the goal of experiments in progress is 10¹¹ W/cm² with further modifications to allow 10¹²W/cm², whereas the reactor requires 10¹⁵ W/cm² in a shaped pulse

[en] For experimental campaigns on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to be successful, they must obtain useful data without causing unacceptable impact on the facility. Of particular concern is excessive damage to optics and diagnostic components. There are 192 fused silica main debris shields (MDS) exposed to the potentially hostile target chamber environment on each shot. Damage in these optics results either from the interaction of laser light with contamination and pre-existing imperfections on the optic surface or from the impact of shrapnel fragments. Mitigation of this second damage source is possible by identifying shrapnel sources and shielding optics from them. It was recently demonstrated that the addition of 1.1-mm thick borosilicate disposable debris shields (DDS) block the majority of debris and shrapnel fragments from reaching the relatively expensive MDS's. However, DDS's cannot stop large, faster moving fragments. We have experimentally demonstrated one shrapnel mitigation technique showing that it is possible to direct fast moving fragments by changing the source orientation, in this case a Ta pinhole array. Another mitigation method is to change the source material to one that produces smaller fragments. Simulations and validating experiments are necessary to determine which fragments can penetrate or break 1-3 mm thick DDS's. Three-dimensional modeling of complex target-diagnostic configurations is necessary to predict the size, velocity, and spatial distribution of shrapnel fragments. The tools we are developing will be used to set the allowed level of debris and shrapnel generation for all NIF experimental campaigns