Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Inertially confined fusion plasmas dominated by alpha-particle self-heating

Nature Physics volume 12, pages 800–806 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Alpha-particle self-heating, the process of deuterium–tritium fusion reaction products depositing their kinetic energy locally within a fusion reaction region and thus increasing the temperature in the reacting region, is essential for achieving ignition in a fusion system. Here, we report new inertial confinement fusion experiments where the alpha-particle heating of the plasma is dominant with the fusion yield produced exceeding the fusion yield from the work done on the fuel (pressure times volume change) by a factor of two or more. These experiments have achieved the highest yield (26 ± 0.5 kJ) and stagnation pressures (≍220 ± 40 Gbar) of any facility-based inertial confinement fusion experiments, although they are still short of the pressures required for ignition on the National Ignition Facility (∼300–400 Gbar). These experiments put us in a new part of parameter space that has not been extensively studied so far because it lies between the no-alpha-particle-deposition regime and ignition.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Hotspot pressure versus coasting time (implosion speed).
Figure 2: 3D implosion morphology and implosion data located in a parameter space relevant to ignition.
Figure 3: The scaling of fusion yield with fuel kinetic energy.
Figure 4: X-ray energy radiated by hotspots from a variety of implosion experiments.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nuckolls, J. et al. Laser compression of matter to super-high densities: thermonuclear (CTR) applications. Nature 239, 139–142 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lindl, J. D. et al. The physics basis for ignition using indirect-drive targets on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Plasmas 11, 339–491 (2003).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hurricane, O. A. et al. Fuel gain exceeding unity in an inertially confined fusion implosion. Nature 506, 343–348 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Döppner, T. et al. Demonstration of improved performance of fully-integrated deuterium–tritium capsule implosion in depleted uranium hohlraum on the NIF. Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 055001 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ma, T. et al. Thin-shell high-velocity ICF implosions on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 145004 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Callahan, D. et al. Higher velocity high-foot implosions on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Plasmas 22, 056314 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kozioziemski, B. J. et al. Deuterium–tritium layer formation for the National Ignition Facility. Fusion Sci. Tech. 59, 14–25 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Atzeni, S. & Meyer-ter-Vehn, J. The Physics of Inertial Fusion (Oxford Univ. Press, 2004).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Spitzer, L. & Harm, R. Transport phenomena in a completely ionized gas. Phys. Rev. 89, 977–981 (1953).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lyon, S. P. & Johnson, J. D. Sesame: The Los Alamos National Laboratory Equation of State Database LA-UR-92-3407 (Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1995).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Krokhin, O. N. & Rozanov, V. B. Escape of α-particles from a laser-pulse-initiated thermonuclear reaction. Sov. J. Quant. Electron. 2, 393–394 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Town, R. P. J. et al. Dynamic symmetry of indirectly driven I. C. F. capsules on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Plasmas 21, 056313 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kritcher, A. L. et al. Metrics for long wavelength asymmetries in inertial confinement fusion implosions on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Plasmas 21, 042708 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lawson, J. D. Some criteria for a power producing thermonuclear reactor. Proc. Phys. Soc. 70, 6–10 (1957).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gus’kov, S. Y., Krokhin, O. N. & Rozanov, V. B. Similarity solution of a thermonuclear burn wave with electron and α-conductivities. Nucl. Fusion 16, 957–962 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Atzeni, S. & Caruso, A. Inertial confinement fusion: ignition of isobarically compressed D-T targets. Nuovo Cimento B 80, 71–103 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Betti, R. et al. Deceleration phase of inertial confinement fusion implosions. Phys. Plasmas 9, 2277–2286 (2002).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chang, P. Y. et al. Generalized measurable ignition criterion for inertial confinement fusion. Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 135002 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yeamans, C. et al. Enhanced NIF neutron activation diagnostics. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D315 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Park, H.-S. et al. High-adiabat, high-foot, inertial confinement fusion implosion experiments on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 055001 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hurricane, O. A. et al. The high-foot implosion campaign on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Plasmas 21, 056314 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Volegov, P. et al. Neutron source reconstruction from pinhole imaging at the National Ignition Facility. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 023508 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Patel, P. et al. Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 55th Annu. Meeting APS Div. Plasma Phys. Vol. 58, 16 (American Physical Society, 2013); http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2013.DPP.NO4.1

    Google Scholar 

  24. Cerjan, C., Springer, P. T. & Sepke, S. M. Integrated diagnostic analysis of inertial confinement fusion capsule performance. Phys. Plasmas 20, 056319 (2013).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Bleuel, D. L. et al. Neutron activiation diagnostics at the National Ignition Facility. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D313 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Gatu Johnson, M. et al. Neutron spectrometry—an essential tool for diagnosing implosions at the National Ignition Facility. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D308 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Glenn, S. et al. A hardened gated X-ray imaging diagnostic for inertial confinement fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81, 10E539 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ma, T. et al. Imaging of high-energy X-ray emissions from cryogenic thermonuclear fuel implosions on the NIF. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10E115 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Merrill, F. E. et al. The neutron imaging diagnostic at NIF. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 10D317 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Grim, G. P. et al. Nuclear imaging of the fuel assembly in ignition experiments. Phys. Plasmas 20, 056320 (2013).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Glebov, V. Yu et al. Development of nuclear diagnostics for the National Ignition Facility. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 10E715 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Brysk, H. Fusion neutron energies and spectra. Plasma Phys. 15, 611–617 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Frenje, J. A. et al. Diagnosing implosion performance at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) by means of neutron spectrometry. Nucl. Fusion 53, 043014 (2013).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Murphy, T. J. The effect of turbulent kinetic energy on inferred ion temperature from neutron spectra. Phys. Plasmas 21, 072701 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Spears, B. K. et al. Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 54th Annu. Meeting APS Div. Plasma Phys. Vol. 57, 12 (American Physical Society, 2012); http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2012.DPP.GO4.5

    Google Scholar 

  36. Betti, R. et al. Thermonuclear ignition in inertial confinement fusion and comparison with magnetic confinement. Phys. Plasmas 17, 058102 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Edwards, M. J. et al. Progress towards ignition on the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Plasmas 20, 070501 (2013).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Dittrich, T. R. et al. Design of a high-foot/high-adiabat ICF capsule for the National Ignition Facility. Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 055002 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Meezan, N. B. et al. Cryogenic THD and DT layer implosions with high density carbon ablators in near-vacuum hohlraums. Phys. Plasmas 22, 062703 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Bosch, H. S. & Hale, G. M. Improved formulas for fusion cross-section and thermal reactivities. Nucl. Fusion 32, 611–631 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge thoughtful discussions with R. Betti (LLE), D. Clark, J. Hammer, J. Hayes, M. C. Herrmann, W. Hsing, B. Kauffman, J. Kilkenny, R. Kirkwood, B. MacGowan, A. Mackinnon, N. Meezan, J. Nuckolls, L. Peterson, J. Pino, K. Raman, B. A. Remington, M. Rosen, V. Smalyuk, C. Thomas and B. Van Wonterghem. Thanks to the NIF’s operations, diagnostics, cryogenics, target, and project engineering teams (B. Burr, P. Kervin, L. Kot, J. Meeker, D. Swift and B. Young). Thanks to external collaborators at LANL (diagnostics), GA (targets), LLE (diagnostics), the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (MRS diagnostic), CEA and AWE. This work was performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA

    O. A. Hurricane, D. A. Callahan, D. T. Casey, E. L. Dewald, T. R. Dittrich, T. Döppner, S. Haan, D. E. Hinkel, L. F. Berzak Hopkins, O. Jones, A. L. Kritcher, S. Le Pape, T. Ma, A. G. MacPhee, J. L. Milovich, J. Moody, A. Pak, H.-S. Park, P. K. Patel, J. E. Ralph, H. F. Robey, J. S. Ross, J. D. Salmonson, B. K. Spears, P. T. Springer, R. Tommasini, F. Albert, L. R. Benedetti, R. Bionta, E. Bond, D. K. Bradley, J. Caggiano, P. M. Celliers, C. Cerjan, J. A. Church, R. Dylla-Spears, M. J. Edwards, D. Fittinghoff, M. A. Barrios Garcia, A. Hamza, R. Hatarik, B. Kozioziemski, G. Grim, J. E. Field, N. Izumi, S. F. Khan, T. Kohut, O. Landen, P. Michel, A. Moore, S. R. Nagel, T. Parham, R. R. Rygg, D. Sayre, M. Schneider, D. Shaughnessy, D. Strozzi, R. P. J. Town, D. Turnbull, A. Wan, K. Widmann & C. Yeamans

  2. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, New York 14623, USA

    D. Edgell, M. Hohenberger & J. Knauer

  3. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA

    H. Herrmann, J. L. Kline, G. Kyrala, F. Merrill, P. Volegov & C. Wilde

  4. General Atomics, La Jolla, California 92121, USA

    D. Hoover & A. Nikroo

  5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA

    J. Frenje & M. Gatu Johnson

Authors
  1. O. A. Hurricane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. A. Callahan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. T. Casey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. L. Dewald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T. R. Dittrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T. Döppner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. S. Haan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. D. E. Hinkel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. L. F. Berzak Hopkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. O. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. A. L. Kritcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. S. Le Pape
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. T. Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. A. G. MacPhee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. J. L. Milovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. J. Moody
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. A. Pak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. H.-S. Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. P. K. Patel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. J. E. Ralph
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. H. F. Robey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. J. S. Ross
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. J. D. Salmonson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  24. B. K. Spears
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  25. P. T. Springer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  26. R. Tommasini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  27. F. Albert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  28. L. R. Benedetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  29. R. Bionta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  30. E. Bond
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  31. D. K. Bradley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  32. J. Caggiano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  33. P. M. Celliers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  34. C. Cerjan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  35. J. A. Church
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  36. R. Dylla-Spears
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  37. D. Edgell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  38. M. J. Edwards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  39. D. Fittinghoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  40. M. A. Barrios Garcia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  41. A. Hamza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  42. R. Hatarik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  43. H. Herrmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  44. M. Hohenberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  45. D. Hoover
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  46. J. L. Kline
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  47. G. Kyrala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  48. B. Kozioziemski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  49. G. Grim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  50. J. E. Field
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  51. J. Frenje
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  52. N. Izumi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  53. M. Gatu Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  54. S. F. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  55. J. Knauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  56. T. Kohut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  57. O. Landen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  58. F. Merrill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  59. P. Michel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  60. A. Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  61. S. R. Nagel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  62. A. Nikroo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  63. T. Parham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  64. R. R. Rygg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  65. D. Sayre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  66. M. Schneider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  67. D. Shaughnessy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  68. D. Strozzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  69. R. P. J. Town
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  70. D. Turnbull
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  71. P. Volegov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  72. A. Wan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  73. K. Widmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  74. C. Wilde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  75. C. Yeamans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

O.A.H. high-foot (HF) team co-lead dynamic model development and synthesis; D.A.C. HF team co-lead hohlraum drive and symmetry; D.T.C. DT shots (experiments) co-RI (responsible individual); E.L.D. 1DConA (velocity measurement) Shot RI, re-emit (X-ray re-emission experiment) Shot RI and data analysis and hot-electron analysis; T.R.D. 1D design physics and scoping; T.D. DT Shot RI and hard X-ray imaging analysis; S.H. DT ice layer characterization and instability growth-factor calculations; D.E.H. integrated hohlraum–capsule pulse-shape design physics and integrated post-shot modelling; L.F.B.H. keyhole (shock wave timing) shot pulse-shape design and post-shot modelling; O.J. hohlraum model design and development; A.L.K. integrated post-shot modelling and asymmetry analysis; S.L. keyhole Shot RI; T.M. DT Shot RI and hotspot shape analysis; A.G.M. capsule X-ray yield, data analysis tools, and 1DConA co-RI; J.L.M. hohlraum model development and re-emit design; J.M. hohlraum and backscatter physics experiments; A.P. DT Shot co-RI, re-emit Shot RI and analysis, and hotspot shape analysis; H.-S.P. DT Shot RI; P.K.P. post-shot data analysis and hotspot model energy, pressure, and alpha-heating analysis; J.E.R. Symcap (hotspot symmetry measurement) Shot RI and backscatter analysis; H.F.R. keyhole platform design and hot-electron studies; J.S.R. hohlraum experiments; J.D.S. 1D post-shot modelling; B.K.S. development model database for alpha-heating analysis and NToF data analysis; P.T.S. hotspot, dynamic model development, and fit of Qcond to SESAME database; R.T. 1DConA shot co-RI, data analysis and unfold of 2DConA data; F.A. FFLEX (hot-electron) data analysis; L.R.B. time-resolved hotspot shape X-ray measurement; R.B. FNADS (nuclear activation) spatial analysis; E.B. NToF data analysis; D.K.B. 2DConA (ablator shape) platform development; J.C. NToF data analysis; P.M.C. keyhole VISAR data analysis; C.C. 3D hotspot model analysis; J.A.C. GRH (gamma reaction history); R.D.S. DT ice layer cryogenics; D.E. south-pole bang-time data analysis; M.J.E. Program Director; D.F. NIS (neutron imaging system) LLNL RS (responsible scientist); M.A.B.G. 2DConA Shot RI; A.H. target fabrication engineering; R.H. NToF data analysis; H.H. GRH data analysis; M.H. FFLEX data synthesis; D.H. target engineering; J.L.K. Symcap Shot RI and Dante (low-resolution X-ray temperature measurement) analysis; B.K. DT ice layer cryogenics and cryo-team science lead; G.K. X-ray imaging and analysis; G.G. fields and performs data analysis for the neutron imaging time-of-flight system; J.E.F. 2DConA data analysis; J.F. MRS (magnetic recoil spectrometer) diagnostic analysis; N.I. X-ray image data analysis; M.G.J. MRS diagnostic analysis; S.F.K. X-ray image analysis; J.K. nuclear data analysis; T.K. DT fuelling and tritium facility lead; O.L. fuel velocity inference; F.M. NIS LANL RS and performs data reduction, analysis, and error determination; P.M. hohlraum cross-bean energy transfer model and analysis; A.M. Dante diagnostic RS; S.R.N. 2DConA Shot co-RI, DIXI X-ray data analysis; A.N. target fabrication engineering; T.P. cryogenics and DT fuel team; R.R.R. 2DConA data analysis; D.S. GRH; M.S. soft X-ray imaging analysis; D.S. spectral radio-chemistry data analysis; D.S. backscatter analysis; R.P.J.T. 2DConA platform design; A.W. high energy density program lead; K.W. Dante diagnostic RS; C.W. NIS diagnostic RI; P.V. develops algorithms to extract source information from NIS coded aperture; C.Y. FNADS (flange nuclear activation diagnostic system) analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. A. Hurricane.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hurricane, O., Callahan, D., Casey, D. et al. Inertially confined fusion plasmas dominated by alpha-particle self-heating. Nature Phys 12, 800–806 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3720

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3720

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing