No aniversário de um ano de alcançar um rendimento de mais de 1,3 megajoules no National Ignition Facility do LLNL, os resultados científicos deste experimento padrão foram publicados em três artigos revisados por pares: um em Physical Review Letters e dois em Physical Review E. imagem estilizada mostra um alvo criogênico usado em experimentos de fusão inercial para localizar registros. Crédito: James Wickboldt/LLNL
Após décadas pesquisando a fusão por confinamento inercial, o rendimento de mais de 1,3 megajoules (MJ) Foi alcançado pela primeira vez em 8 de agosto de 2021. Cientistas do Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) colocaram o National Ignition Facility (NIF) no limiar da aquisição de fusão e ignição científica.
No aniversário de um ano desta conquista histórica, os resultados científicos deste experimento padrão foram publicados em três artigos revisados por pares. Um artigo foi publicado em mensagens de revisão física e dois em revisão física. No mensagens de revisão física Pesquisa, mais de 1.000 autores estão incluídos para identificar e apreciar os muitos indivíduos que trabalharam por muitas décadas para permitir este grande avanço.
“O tiro recorde foi um grande avanço científico na pesquisa de fusão, que prova que a ignição por fusão in vitro é possível no NIF”, disse Omar Hurrican, cientista-chefe do programa de fusão de autoconfinamento do LLNL. “Alcançar as condições para a ignição tem sido um objetivo de longa data de todas as pesquisas de fusão de autoconfinamento e permite o acesso a um novo regime experimental onde o autoaquecimento de partículas alfa supera todos os mecanismos de resfriamento de fusão.[{” attribute=””>plasma.”
The results from August 8, 2021, are described in detail in the papers. They also include the associated design, improvements, and experimental measurements. LLNL physicist Alex Zylstra, lead experimentalist and first author of the experimental Physical Review E paper, noted that in 2020 and early 2021 the Lab conducted experiments in the “burning plasma” regime for the first time. These set the stage for the record shot.
“From that design, we made several improvements to get to the August 8, 2021, shot,” he said. “Improvements to the physics design and quality of target all helped lead to the success of the August shot, which is discussed in the Physical Review E papers.”
This experiment incorporated a few important changes, including an improved target design. “Reducing the coasting-time with more efficient hohlraums compared to prior experiments was key in moving between the burning plasma and ignition regimes,” said LLNL physicist Annie Kritcher, lead designer and first author of the design Physical Review E paper. “The other main changes were improved capsule quality and a smaller fuel fill tube.”
Since the experiment last August, the researchers have been executing a series of experiments to attempt to repeat the performance and to understand the experimental sensitivities in this new regime.
“Many variables can impact each experiment,” Kritcher said. “The 192 laser beams do not perform exactly the same from shot to shot, the quality of targets varies and the ice layer grows at differing roughness on each target. These experiments provided an opportunity to test and understand the inherent variability in this new, sensitive experimental regime.”
Although the repeat attempts have not reached the same level of fusion yield as the August 2021 experiment, all of them demonstrated capsule gain greater than unity. They have had yields in the 430-700 kJ range, which are significantly higher than the previous highest yield of 170 kJ from February 2021. The data gained from these and other experiments are providing crucial clues as to what went right and what changes are needed in order to not only repeat that experiment but also exceed its performance in the future. The scientists are also utilizing the experimental data to increase understanding of the fundamental processes of fusion ignition and burn. They’re also working to enhance simulation tools in support of stockpile stewardship.
Looking ahead, the research team is working to leverage the accumulated experimental data and simulations to move toward a more robust regime – further beyond the ignition cliff – where general trends found in this new experimental regime can be better separated from variability in targets and laser performance.
Efforts to increase fusion performance and robustness are underway via improvements to the laser and improvements to the targets. Additionally, they’re working on modifications to the design that further improve energy delivery to the hotspot while maintaining or even increasing the hot-spot pressure. This includes improving the compression of the fusion fuel, increasing the amount of fuel, and other avenues.
“It is extremely exciting to have an ‘existence proof’ of ignition in the lab,” Hurricane said. “We’re operating in a regime that no researchers have accessed since the end of nuclear testing, and it’s an incredible opportunity to expand our knowledge as we continue to make progress.”
References:
“Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment” by H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), 8 August 2022, Physical Review Letters.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001
“Experimental achievement and signatures of ignition at the National Ignition Facility” by A. B. Zylstra et al., 8 August 2022, Physical Review E.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.106.025202
“Design of an inertial fusion experiment exceeding the Lawson criterion for ignition” by A. L. Kritcher et al., 8 August 2022, Physical Review E.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.106.025201
“Especialista em comida. Nerd de álcool. Leitor extremo. Empreendedor. Fanático devoto de mídia social. Especialista em cerveja ávido. Introvertido. Pensador freelance.”