Key physics for Inertial Confinement Fusion diagnosed by ion emission

我们提出了一个新的研究方案，它将为我们理解高密度等离子体中的高能电子传输和冲击波爆发一致性的物理学提供实质性和重要的进展--这些过程对惯性约束聚变(ICF)计划的成功至关重要。为此，我们将开发一种全新的基于离子发射的诊断技术，并将其应用于诊断电子传输和冲击均匀度突破，其分辨率达到前所未有的微米级。这比现有的诊断技术提供了显著的优势，当与现有技术相结合时，将大大增加我们对ICF关键物理过程的理解。ICF有望在实验室实现这样的条件，即在聚变反应中产生的能量比入射到内爆聚变小球上的能量更多，从而创造出一种能源(惯性聚变能量)。ICF快速点火方法的一个关键问题是如何有效地传递来自短“点火”激光脉冲的能量，通常是通过加速和传输高能电子来实现的。因此，理解激光加速的相对论电子的能量传输和加热对于快速点火器的概念是至关重要的，但与此相关的许多悬而未决的物理问题仍然存在。快电子在致密物质中的输运对于发展高功率激光驱动离子源也是非常重要的。建议的研究包括一套全面的实验研究计划，并以理论模型为基础，旨在解决对激光驱动粒子和辐射源特别是ICF的发展至关重要的电子输运和冲击波传播问题。该计划将在卢瑟福·阿普尔顿实验室的中央激光设施使用最先进的高强度激光系统进行。

We propose a new programme of research which will provide substantial and important advances in our understanding of the physics of energetic electron transport and shock breakout uniformity in dense plasma - processes critical to the success of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) schemes. We will do this by developing an entirely new class of diagnostic, based on ion emission, and apply this to diagnose electron transport and shock uniformity breakout with unprecedented micron-scale resolution. This offers significant advantages over existing diagnostic techniques and when combined with existing techniques will greatly increase our understanding of key physical processes for ICF.ICF holds the promise of achieving conditions in the laboratory where more energy is produced in fusion reactions than is incident on an imploding fusion pellet, thus creating an energy source (Inertial Fusion Energy). A critical issue for the fast ignition approach to ICF is the efficient delivery of energy from a short 'ignition' laser pulse, usually by acceleration and transport of energetic electrons. An understanding of energy transport and heating by laser-accelerated relativistic electrons is therefore of fundamental importance to the fast ignitor concept and yet there are many outstanding physics questions relating to this. The transport of fast electrons through dense matter is also important for the development of high power laser driven ion sources. The research proposed here involves a comprehensive programme of experimental investigations, underpinned by theoretical modelling, designed to address questions on electron transport and shock propagation of fundamental importance to the development of laser driven particle and radiation sources in general and ICF in particular.The programme will be carried out using state-of-the-art high intensity laser systems at the Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.