Effect of Laser-Plasma Interactions on Inertial Fusion Hydrodynamics

Abstract

The effects of laser-plasma interactions (LPI) on the dynamics of inertial confinement fusion hohlraums is investigated via a new approach that self-consistently couples reduced LPI models into radiation-hydrodynamics numerical codes. The interplay between hydrodynamics and LPI -- specifically stimulated Raman scatter (SRS) and crossed-beam energy transfer (CBET) -- mostly occurs via momentum and energy deposition into Langmuir and ion acoustic waves. This spatially redistributes energy coupling to the target, which affects the background plasma conditions and thus modifies laser propagation. This model shows reduced CBET, and significant laser energy depletion by Langmuir waves, which reduce the discrepancy between modeling and data from hohlraum experiments on wall x-ray emission and capsule implosion shape.

5 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Physical Review Letters

References in corpus (1)

• Ray-based calculations of backscatter in laser fusion targets

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Polychromatic drivers for inertial fusion energy
• Investigation of Langdon effect on the stimulated backward Raman and Brillouin scattering
• Resolving discrepancies in bang-time predictions for indirect-drive ICF experiments on the NIF: Insights from the Build-A-Hohlraum campaign
• Investigation of Langdon effect on the nonlinear evolution of SRS from the early-stage inflation to the late-stage development of secondary instabilities