Imaging the burn region of laser driven implosions on OMEGA using the proton core imaging spectroscope

Abstract

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 143).The first measurements of the nuclear burn region of OMEGA implosions have been made with the Proton Core Imaging Spectroscope (PCIS). Using CR-39 nuclear track detectors, PCIS applies the technique of penumbral imaging to measure the radial profile of D-D and D-3He protons produced by implosions of D2-3He-filled capsules. For capsules with 20 [mu]m-CH shells, images of D-3He protons resulted in Gaussian profiles with an average l/e radius of [approx.]35 [mu]m. Gaussian profiles inferred from the D-3He protons and D-D protons produced by implosions of 2 [mu]tm SiO2-shell capsules had average l/e radii of 60 [mu]m and 94 [mu]m, respectively. [mu]m and 94 [mu]m, respectively.by Brook-Eden Schwartz.S.M