Engineering topics

Moore, A. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Moore, A. S..

16 records

DOE OSTI2024

Observations and properties of the first laboratory fusion experiment to exceed a target gain of unity

An indirect-drive inertial fusion experiment on the National Ignition Facility was driven using 2.05 MJ of laser light at a wavelength of 351 nm and produced 3.1±0.16 MJ of total fusion yield, producing a target gain G=1.5±0.1 exceeding unity for the first time in a laboratory experiment [Phys. Rev. E 109, 025204 (2024)]. Herein we describe the experimental evidence for the increased drive on the capsule using additional laser energy and control over known degradation mechanisms, which are critical to achieving high performance. Further, improved fuel compression relative to previous megajoule-yield experiments is observed. Novel signatures of the ignition and burn propagation to high yield can now be studied in the laboratory for the first time.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Hohlraum Reheating from Burning NIF Implosions

As fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) approach and exceed breakeven, energy from the burning capsule is predicted to couple to the gold walls and reheat the hohlraum. For example, on December 5, 2022, experiment N221204 exceeded target breakeven, historically achieving 3.15 MJ of fusion energy from 2.05 MJ of laser drive; for the first time, energy from the igniting capsule reheated the hohlraum beyond the peak laser-driven radiation temperature of 313 eV to a peak of 350 eV, in less than half a nanosecond. This reheating effect has now been unambiguously observed by the two independent Dante calorimeter systems across multiple experiments, and is shown to result from reheating of the remnant tungsten-doped ablator by the exploding core, which is heated by alpha deposition.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Correlations between asymmetric compression, burn amplification, and hot-spot velocities in inertial confinement fusion implosions

Here, this manuscript examines the correlations between the hot-spot velocity (an observable signature of residual kinetic energy), low-mode implosion asymmetries, and burn amplification in inertial confinement fusion implosions on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Using a combination of two-dimensional axis-symmetric and three-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations coupled to neutronics, we find that for typical NIF implosions, the stagnation asymmetry multiplies the observed hot-spot velocity anywhere from 80% to 120%, while burn amplification always increases it. Additionally, we find stagnation asymmetry typically deflects the observed hot-spot flow. The two mechanisms (low-mode implosion asymmetries and burn amplification) can be decoupled, and application of a simple model to a database of cryogenic implosions on the NIF infers the total hot-spot velocity amplification. This finding modifies the interpretation of data collected from inertial confinement fusion experiments and impacts the magnitude and origin of low-mode asymmetries.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Dynamics and Power Balance of Near Unity Target Gain Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions

The change in the power balance, temporal dynamics, emission weighted size, temperature, mass, and areal density of inertially confined fusion plasmas have been quantified for experiments that reach target gains up to 0.72. It is observed that as the target gain rises, increased rates of self-heating initially overcome expansion power losses. This leads to reacting plasmas that reach peak fusion production at later times with increased size, temperature, mass and with lower emission weighted areal densities. Analytic models are consistent with the observations and inferences for how these quantities evolve as the rate of fusion self-heating, fusion yield, and target gain increase. At peak fusion production, it is found that as temperatures and target gains rise, the expansion power loss increases to a near constant ratio of the fusion self-heating power. Finally, this is consistent with models that indicate that the expansion losses dominate the dynamics in this regime.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Neutron time of flight (nToF) detectors for inertial fusion experiments

Neutrons generated in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiments provide valuable information to interpret the conditions reached in the plasma. The neutron time-of-flight (nToF) technique is well suited for measuring the neutron energy spectrum due to the short time (100 ps) over which neutrons are typically emitted in ICF experiments. By locating detectors 10s of meters from the source, the neutron energy spectrum can be measured to high precision. Here, we present a contextual review of the current state of the art in nToF detectors at ICF facilities in the United States, outlining the physics that can be measured, the detector technologies currently deployed and analysis techniques used.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Evidence for suprathermal ion distribution in burning plasmas

At the National Ignition Facility, inertial confinement fusion experiments aim to burn and ignite a hydrogen plasma to generate a net source of energy through the fusion of deuterium and tritium ions. The energy deposited by α-particles released from the deuterium–tritium fusion reaction plays the central role in heating the fuel to achieve a sustained thermonuclear burn. In the hydrodynamic picture, α-heating increases the temperature of the plasma, leading to increased reactivity because the mean ion kinetic energy increases. Therefore, the ion temperature is related to the mean ion kinetic energy. In this report we use the moments of the neutron spectrum to study the relationship between the ion temperature (measured by the variance in the neutron kinetic energy spectrum) and the ion mean kinetic energy (measured by the shift in the mean neutron energy). We observe a departure from the relationship expected for plasmas where the ion relative kinetic energy distribution is Maxwell–Boltzmann, when the plasma begins to burn. Understanding the cause of this departure from hydrodynamic behaviour could be important for achieving robust and reproducible ignition.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Design of a multi-detector, single line-of-sight, time-of-flight system to measure time-resolved neutron energy spectra

In the dynamic environment of burning, thermonuclear deuterium–tritium plasmas, diagnosing the time-resolved neutron energy spectrum is of critical importance. Strategies exist for this diagnosis in magnetic confinement fusion plasmas, which presently have a lifetime of ~10 12 longer than inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasmas. In this work, we present a novel concept for a simple, precise, and scale-able diagnostic to measure time-resolved neutron spectra in ICF plasmas. The concept leverages general tomographic reconstruction techniques adapted to time-of-flight parameter space, and then employs an updated Monte Carlo algorithm and National Ignition Facility-relevant constraints to reconstruct the time-evolving neutron energy spectrum. Reconstructed spectra of the primary 14.028 MeV n DT peak are in good agreement with the exact synthetic spectra. The technique is also used to reconstruct the time-evolving downscattered spectrum, although the present implementation shows significantly more error.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2022

The Vacuum Cherenkov Detector (VCD) for γ-ray measurements in inertial confinement fusion experiments

Inertial confinement fusion experiments at both the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics OMEGA laser facility currently utilize Cherenkov detectors, with fused silica as the Cherenkov medium. At the NIF, the Quartz Cherenkov Detectors improve the precision of neutron time-of-flight measurements; and at OMEGA, the Diagnostic for Areal Density provides measurements of capsule shell areal densities. An inherent property of fused silica is the radiator’s relatively low energy threshold for Cherenkov photon production (E threshold < 1 MeV), making it advantageous over gas-based Cherenkov detectors for experiments requiring low-energy γ detection. The Vacuum Cherenkov Detector (VCD) has been specifically designed for efficient detection of low energy γ’s. Its primary use is in implosion experiments, which will study reactions relevant to stellar and big-bang nucleosynthesis, such as T( 4 He,γ) 7 Li, 4 He( 3 He,γ) 7 Be, and 12 C(p,γ) 13 N. Further, the VCD is compatible with LLE’s standard Ten-Inch Manipulator diagnostic insertion module. This work will outline the design and characterization of the VCD as well as provide results from recent experiments conducted at the OMEGA laser facility.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1989

Solar sensor subsystems alignment check using solar scans for the Halogen Occultation Experiment

The alignment of a dual-axes sun sensor subsystem to a telescope having a multiple sensor subsystem is described. The sun sensor consists of two analog and one digital silicon detectors. The analog detectors are shadow mask type operating in the visible spectrum. The detectors are mounted for azimuth and elevation positioning of biaxial gimbals. The digital detector is a linear diode array that operates at a spectral position of 0.7 micron and is used for elevation positioning. The position signals correspond to relative angles between the sun sensor and the solar disk. These three detectors are aligned on an Invar structure which is mounted to a Cassegrain telescope. This telescope relays solar radiance to an eight channel detector subsystem operating in the infrared range from 2 to 10 microns. The test technique and results to check the boresight alignment of these two subsystems by scanning the solar disk will be reported. The boresight alignment for both the azimuth and elevation axes of the two detector subsystems is verified using this technique.

Jurczyk, S. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Sun sensor boresight alignment testing for the Halogen Occultation Experiment

The boresight alignment testing for the sun sensor assembly on the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) is described. The sun sensor assembly consists of three sensors that provide feedback signals for controlling dual axes gimbals. Two energy balancing silicon detectors are operated as wideband sensors in the azimuth and elevation axes. The third sensor is a silicon photodiode array operated as a narrow-band sensor in the elevation axis. These sensors are mounted on a common Invar structure which is mounted to the HALOE telescope. A blackbody was used as the stimulating source to perform the initial boresight alignment and this was checked with a heliostat solar look and a direct solar look. These tests are explained with a comparison between each source used.

Moore, A. S.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Digital solar edge tracker for the Halogen Occultation Experiment

The optical and electronic design of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (Haloe) elevation sun sensor is described. The Haloe instrument is a gas-correlation radiometer now being developed at NASA Langley for the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. The system uses a Galilean telescope to form a solar image on a linear silicon photodiode array. The array is a self-scanned monolithic CCD. The addresses of both solar edges imaged on the array are used by the control/pointing system to scan the Haloe science instantaneous field of view (IFOV) across the vertical solar diameter during instrument calibration and then to maintain the science IFOV 4 arcmin below the top edge during the science data occultation event. Vertical resolution of 16 arcsec and a radiometric dynamic range of 100 are achieved at the 700-nm operating wavelength. The design provides for loss of individual photodiode elements without loss of angular tracking capability.

Mauldin, L. E., III↗

NASA NTRS1985

Application of a silicon photodiode array for solar edge tracking in the Halogen Occultation Experiment

The optical and electronic design of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) elevation sunsensor is described. This system uses a Galilean telescope to form a solar image on a linear silicon photodiode array. The array is a self-scanned, monolithic charge coupled device. The addresses of both solar edges imaged on the array are used by the control/pointing system to scan the HALOE science instantaneous-field-of-view (IFOV) across the vertical solar diameter during instrument calibration, and then maintain the science IFOV four arcmin below the top edge during the science data occultation event. Vertical resolution of 16 arcsec and a radiometric dynamic range of 100 are achieved at the 0.7 micrometer operating wavelength. The design provides for loss of individual photodiode elements without loss of angular tracking capability. The HALOE instrument is a gas correlation radiometer that is now being developed by NASA Langley Research Center for the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite.

Mauldin, L. E., III↗

NASA NTRS1983

Effects of wind on turbofan engines in outdoor static test stands

Wind can affect measured thrust and can cause turbofan engine speed to fluctuate during outdoor testing. Techniques used at an outdoor test stand at NASA Lewis Research Center to make testing easier and faster and to improve data repeatability include using an inflow control device (ICD) to make fan speed steadier, taking many raw data samples for better averaging, and correcting thrust for wind direction and speed. Data from engine tests are presented to show that the techniques improve repeatability of thrust and airflow measurements under various wind conditions. Previously announced in STAR as N83-34945

Mcardle, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Effects of wind on turbofan engines in outdoor static test stands

Mcardle, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Static and transient performance of YF-102 engine with up to 14 percent core airbleed for the quiet short-haul research aircraft

An outdoor static test stand was used to measure the steady-state and transient performance of the YF-102 turbofan engine with core airbleed. The test configuration included a bellmouth inlet and a confluent-flow exhaust system similar in size to the quiet short-haul research aircraft (QSRA) exhaust system. For the steady-state tests, the engine operated satisfactorily with core bleed up to 14 percent of the core inlet flow. For the transient tests the engine accelerated and decelerated satisfactorily with no core bleed and with core bleed up to 11 percent of the core inlet flow (maximum tested). For some of the tests the core-bleed flow rate was scheduled to vary with fan discharge pressure, to simulate the QSRA bleed requirements. No stability, surge, stall, overtemperature, combustor flameout, or other operating problems were encountered in any of the tests. Steady-state and transient engine performance data are presented in graphs, and fuel-control trajectories for typical transient tests are shown.

Mcardle, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Static test-stand performance of the YF-102 turbofan engine with several exhaust configurations for the Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA)

The performance of a YF-102 turbofan engine was measured in an outdoor test stand with a bellmouth inlet and seven exhaust-system configurations. The configurations consisted of three separate-flow systems of various fan and core nozzle sizes and four confluent-flow systems of various nozzle sizes and shapes. A computer program provided good estimates of the engine performance and of thrust at maximum rating for each exhaust configuration. The internal performance of two different-shaped core nozzles for confluent-flow configurations was determined to be satisfactory. Pressure and temperature surveys were made with a traversing probe in the exhaust-nozzle flow for some confluent-flow configurations. The survey data at the mixing plane, plus the measured flow rates, were used to calculate the static-pressure variation along the exhaust nozzle length. The computed pressures compared well with experimental wall static-pressure data. External-flow surveys were made, for some confluent-flow configurations, with a large fixed rake at various locations in the exhaust plume.

Mcardle, J. G.↗