Analysis of forces on inertial confinement fusion targets during ablation layer coating

Ablation layer coating of inertial confinement fusion targets is accomplished while the targets are bounced on the surface of a mechanical resonator. Under certain conditions the targets stick to the resonator at low amplitudes and bounce too high and escape or break at high amplitudes. An analytical model of a bouncing target is considered to determine important parameters in the bouncing process. The resonant frequency of the target is found to be two orders of magnitude higher than the mechanical resonator frequency and therefore not an important factor in unsticking targets. Experiments have been carried out to determine the adhesive force between the mechanical resonator and the targets and the effect of a plasma on this adhesive force.