Effect of strongly magnetized electrons and ions on heat flow and symmetry of inertial fusion implosions

Journal article : Editorial

This Letter presents the first observation on how a strong, 500 kG, externally applied B field increases the mode-two asymmetry in shock-heated inertial fusion implosions. Using a direct-drive implosion with polar illumination and imposed field, we observed that magnetization produces a significant increase in the implosion oblateness (a 2.5× larger P2 amplitude in x-ray self-emission images) compared with reference experiments with identical drive but with no field applied. The implosions produce strongly magnetized electrons (ω_{e}τ_{e}≫1) and ions (ω_{i}τ_{i}>1) that, as shown using simulations, restrict the cross field heat flow necessary for lateral distribution of the laser and shock heating from the implosion pole to the waist, causing the enhanced mode-two shape.

Authors: Bose, A; Peebles, J; Walsh, CA; Frenje, JA; Kabadi, NV

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 128
• Issue: 19
• Article number: 195002
• Place of publication: United States
• Publication date: 2022-05-11
• Acceptance date: 2022-03-31
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.195002
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Pmid: 35622051
• Language: English
• Keywords: direct drive; magnetoinertial fusion; plasma production & heating by shock waves & compression; inertial confinement fusion; implosion symmetry
• Subtype: Editorial