Forming cryogenic targets for direct-drive experiments

More than 100 spherical deuterium ice layers have been formed to make cryogenic targets for direct-drive ICF implosion experiments on OMEGA. These ice layers have an inner surface roughness that ranges from 1.3to6μm root-mean-square (rms), with the best layers having a value less than 2μm rms. These surface roughness values are averaged two-dimensional roughness measurements that cover the entire surface and includes all of the Fourier cosine modes. The ice thickness variation within the layer is predominately in the low spectral modes (mode 5 and lower) and is caused by the support used to hold the target. Changing the design of this support to minimize the thermal effect is constrained by the necessity of having a dynamically stable target for the implosion. We have demonstrated that it is possible to form crystalline ice layers that are facet-free and transparent by slowing the solidification rate of the liquid. Faster freezing rates form layers comprised of polycrystalline ice with a greater roughness (1to2μm greater). Cooling an ice layer 0.5K below the triple point temperature does not affect the roughness of the layer. Cooling the layer a further 1K to achieve the desired internal gas pressure sometimes induces additional ice roughness; this roughness is manifest over low- to mid-spectral modes. Removing the thermal shrouds from around the target causes the ice to melt and the internal gas pressure to increase. Using the behavior of a cryogenic deuterium target as a reference, calculations of the response of the more interesting National Ignition Facility-scale deuterium and tritium targets show that exposing the target for 0.8s to ambient radiation will cause ∼10% of the ice to melt and partially slump whereas the gas pressure will increase by 15%.