Validation of thermal-transport modeling with direct-drive, planar-foil acceleration experiments on OMEGA

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Aug 1;101(5):055002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.055002. Epub 2008 Jul 29.

Abstract

We present for the first time the experimental validation of the nonlocal thermal-transport model for a National Ignition Facility relevant laser intensity of approximately 10(15) W/cm(2) on OMEGA. The measured thin target trajectories are in good agreement with predictions based on the nonlocal model over the full range of laser intensities from 2 x 10(14) to 10(15) W/cm(2}) The standard local thermal-transport model with a constant flux limiter of 0.06 disagrees with experimental measurements at a high intensity of approximately 10(15) W/cm(2) but agrees at lower intensities. These results show the significance of nonlocal effects for direct-drive ignition designs.