Measuring the principal Hugoniot of ICF-relevant TMPTA plastic foams

Journal article

Wetted-foam layers are of significant interest for inertial confinement fusion capsules, due to the control they provide over the convergence ratio of the implosion, and the opportunity this affords to minimize hydrodynamic instability growth. However, the equation of state (EOS) for fusion relevant foams is not well characterized, and many simulations rely on modelling such foams as a homogeneous medium with the foam average density. To address this question, an experiment was performed using the the VULCAN Nd:glass laser at the Central Laser Facility. The aim was to measure the principal Hugoniot of TMPTA plastic foams at 260 mg/cm3 , corresponding to the density of liquid DT-wetted-foam layers, and their ‘hydrodynamic equivalent’ capsules. A VISAR was used to obtain the shock velocity of both the foam and an α-quartz reference layer, while streaked optical pyrometry provided the temperature of the shocked material. The measurements confirm that, for the pressure range accessed, this material can indeed be well described using the equation of state of the homogeneous medium at the foam density.

Authors: Paddock, R; von der LEYEN, M; Aboushelbaya, R; Norreys, P; Chapman, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
• Volume: 107
• Article number: 025206
• Publication date: 2023-02-23
• Acceptance date: 2022-12-10
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.107.025206
• EISSN: 1550-2376
• ISSN: 1539-3755
• Language: English
• Keywords: FFR