Direct-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion: Overview and Status

Radha Bahukutumbi

Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

12:00pm

NW17-218 Hybrid

PSFC Seminars

Abstract: Directly driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions can potentially provide high fusion yields. The OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester is used for the demonstration of proof-of-principle experiments and understand the underlying physics and engineering dependencies for direct-drive ICF. The goal is to demonstrate ignition equivalent cryogenic deuterium-tritium implosion performance on OMEGA and extrapolate these subscale implosions to ignition scale, such as that on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). In this talk I will describe results from OMEGA implosion experiments. I will also discuss the physics at the megajoule (NIF) or ignition scale that play an important role in the extrapolation of OMEGA implosion performance. Results from direct-drive experiments on the NIF will be presented and the prospects for ignition discussed.

Bio: Radha Bahukutumbi is a Distinguished Scientist at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Her interests include Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) physics, modeling ICF implosions, target-design and related experiments on high-power lasers. Radha also enjoys identifying challenges related to nuclear astrophysics that can be addressed using high-power lasers. Radha led direct-drive experiments at the National Ignition Facility to study various aspects of direct-drive until 2017. Prior to her current position, Radha led the Integrated Modeling Group and was Chair of the High-Performance Computing Group at LLE. She has served on several panels and committees reviewing inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser facilities. Radha also leads a group of women at LLE (Women in Science and Engineering at LLE) with the goals of hiring, mentoring, and retention. She received the Fusion Power Associates Leadership award in 2021. Radha is a fellow of the American Physical Society. Radha has her PhD from the California Institute of Technology.