Time-dependent nuclear measurements of mix in inertial confinement fusion

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 May 25;98(21):215002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.215002. Epub 2007 May 24.

Abstract

The first time-dependent nuclear measurements of turbulent mix in inertial confinement fusion have been obtained. Implosions of spherical deuterated-plastic shells filled with pure 3He gas require atomic-scale mixing of the shell and gas for the D-3He nuclear reaction to proceed. The time necessary for Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) growth to induce mix delays peak nuclear production time, compared to equivalent capsules filled with a D2-3He mixture, by 75+/-30 ps, equal to half the nuclear burn duration. These observations indicate the likelihood of atomic mix at the tips of core-penetrating RT spikes.