Velocity analysis of supersonic jet flow in double-cone ignition scheme

In the double-cone ignition schemes(DCIS), the deuterium–tritium target shell is ablated and compressed by a highpower nanosecond laser in Au-cones to generate plasmas. Under the actions of spherically symmetric compression and acceleration along the Au cone, they will be ejected out of the cone mouth and collide with each other. The plasmas experience conversion from kinetic energy to internal energy at the vertex of the geometric center of two Au cones that are symmetric to each other, because of which high-density fusion plasmas are preheated. This key physical process has undergone experimental verification on the Shenguang-II upgraded facility in China. Apparently, the improvement and optimization of the velocity of plasmas in hypersonic jet flow at the cone mouth are crucial for the success of the DCIS. In the DCIR7 experiment of the Shenguang-II upgraded facility, a velocity yield of approximately 130–260 km/s was achieved for the plasmas at the cone mouth, with a result of nearly 300 km/s based on numerical simulation. In this paper, theoretical analysis is performed as regards the process, in which target shells are ablated and compressed by laser to generate highvelocity plasmas ejected through jet flow. Based on this analysis, the formula for the velocity of plasmas in supersonic jet flow at the cone mouth is proposed. This study also provides measures that are more effective for improving the kinetic energy of plasmas and optimizing energy conversion efficiency, which can serve as theoretical references for the adjustment and optimization of processes in subsequent experiments.

Development of a monochromatic crystal backlight imager for the recent double-cone ignition experiments

We developed a monochromatic crystal backlight imaging system for the double-cone ignition(DCI) scheme, employing a spherically bent quartz crystal. This system was used to measure the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the head-on colliding plasma from the two compressing cones in the DCI experiments. The influence of laser parameters on the x-ray backlighter intensity and spatial resolution of the imaging system was investigated. The imaging system had a spatial resolution of 10 μm when employing a CCD detector. Experiments demonstrated that the system can obtain time-resolved radiographic images with high quality, enabling the precise measurement of the shape, size, and density distribution of the plasma.

A model for fast electron-driven high-density plasma in the double-cone ignition scheme

A model for fast electron-driven high-density plasma is proposed to describe the effect of injected fast electrons on the temperature and inner pressure of the plasma in the fast heating process of the double-cone ignition(DCI)scheme.Due to the collision of the two low-density plasmas,the density and volume of the high-density plasma vary.Therefore,the ignition temperature and energy requirement of the high-density plasma vary at different moments,and the required energy for hot electrons to heat the plasma also changes.In practical experiments,the energy input of hot electrons needs to be considered.To reduce the energy input of hot electrons,the optimal moment and the shortest time for injecting hot electrons with minimum energy are analyzed.In this paper,it is proposed to inject hot electrons for a short time to heat the high-density plasma to a relatively high temperature.Then,the alpha particles with the high heating rate and PdV work heat the plasma to the ignition temperature,further reducing the energy required to inject hot electrons.The study of the injection time of fast electrons can reduce the energy requirement of fast electrons for the high-density plasma and increase the probability of successful ignition of the high-density plasma.

Ultrafast two-dimensional x-ray imager with temporal fiducial pulses for laser-produced plasmas

It is challenging to make an ultrafast diagnosis of the temporal evolution of small and short-lived plasma in two dimensions. To overcome this difficulty, we have developed a well-timed diagnostic utilizing an x-ray streak camera equipped with a row of multi-pinhole arrays. By processing multiple sets of one-dimensional streaked image data acquired from various pinholes, we are capable of reconstructing high-resolution two-dimensional images with a temporal resolution of 38 ps and a spatial resolution of 18 μm. The temporal fiducial pulses accessed from external sources can advance the precise timing and accurately determine the arrival time of the laser. Moreover, it can correct the nonlinear sweeping speed of the streak camera. The effectiveness of this diagnostic has been successfully verified at the Shenguang-II laser facility,providing an indispensable tool for observing complex physical phenomena, such as the implosion process of laser-fusion experiments.

双锥流量传感器的数值模拟与优化设计

以数值仿真和实验两方面研究了一种新型的双锥流量传感器,考察了该传感器的关键几何参数即前锥角、后锥角、等效直径比及槽道长度对流出系数、线性度及相对压力损失等性能指标的影响,并预测得到了1个最优模型进行实流实验标定.采用正交实验法进行CFD数值模拟.分析结果表明:前锥角对双锥流量传感器相对压力损失、流出系数及流出系数线性度有重要的影响;后锥角则对相对压力损失有重要影响.最终实流实验验证结果与仿真计算结果具有良好的吻合度.

通用补偿式柴油质量计量仪表的研究

基于涡轮流量传感器的工作原理,对因柴油温度、密度的改变而产生的计量误差进行深入研究,实现温度补偿的通用型算法,质量仪表系数精度优于0.11%;给出补偿式柴油质量计量仪表的硬件及软件系统的设计方案;标定实验中样机计量精度为0.2%。

锥体差压式流量传感器流出系数的预测

利用RNGk-ε模型,对100mm口径锥体差压式流量传感器进行了CFD数值模拟实验,其等效直径比β值分别为0.50、0.65、0.85,前锥角分别为40°、45°、50°,后锥角分别为120°、130°、140°,共27种锥体组合.实验结果表明:β值越大,流出系数越小,且流出系数更易受雷诺数的影响;β值相同时,前锥角对流出系数具有较大影响,且较大的前锥角可减弱雷诺数对流出系数的影响;后锥角对流出系数的线性度具有一定程度的影响.数值模拟实验于实流物理实验结果相比,平均误差约5%,最大值小于9.1%.

差压式流量传感器的数值模拟与优化设计

利用RNGk-ε模型对100mm口径锥体差压式流量传感器进行了CFD数值模拟实验,其等效直径比β值分别为0.50,0.65,0.85,前锥角分别为40°,45°,50°,后锥角分别为120°,130°,140°,共27种锥体组合。实验结果表明:β值越大,流出系数越小,且流出系数更易受雷诺数的影响;β值相同时,前锥角对流出系数具有较大影响,且较大的前锥角可减弱雷诺数对流出系数的影响;后锥角对流出系数的线性度具有一定程度的影响。

新型补偿式柴油质量计量仪表的研究

基于涡轮流量传感器的工作原理 ,本文对因柴油温度、密度的改变而产生的计量误差进行了较为深入研究 ,给出“通用型温度补偿算法”,实现了优于 0 .11%的质量仪表系数的精度。同时给出补偿式柴油质量计量仪表的硬件及软件系统的设计方案 ,以该方案制成的样机在标定实验中获得了 0 .2

Analytical model for Rayleigh-Taylor instability in conical target conduction region

This work builds an isobaric steady-state fluid analytical-physical model of the plasma conduction region in a conical target. The hydrodynamic instability in the double-cone ignition scheme^([21]) for inertial confinement fusion(ICF) proposed by Zhang is studied with the built model. With this idealized model, the relevant parameters, such as density, temperature,and length of the plasma in the conduction region of the conical target under long-pulse conditions are given. The solution of the proposed analytical model dovetails with the trend of the numerical simulation. The model and results in this paper are beneficial for discussing how to attenuate Rayleigh-Taylor instability in ICF processes with conical and spherical targets.

Fast electrons collimating and focusing by an ultraintense laser interacting with a high density layers

The use of a novel double-cone funnel target with high density layers （HDL） to collimate and focus electrons is investigated by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The proposed scheme can guide, collimate and focus electron beams to smaller sizes. The collimation reasons are analyzed by the quasi-static magnetic fields generation inside the beam collimator with HDL. It is found that the energy conversion efficiency is increased by a factor of 2.2 in this new scheme in comparison with the that without HDL. Such a target structure has potential for design flexibility and prevents inefficiencies in important applications such as fast ignition, etc.

Design, performance and application of a line-imaging velocity interferometer system for any reflector coupled with a streaked optical pyrometer system at the Shenguang-Ⅱ upgrade laser facility

The velocity interferometer system for any reflector(VISAR) coupled with a streaked optical pyrometer(SOP) system is used as a diagnostic tool in inertial confinement fusion(ICF) experiments involving equations of state and shock timing.To validate the process of adiabatically compressing the fuel shell through precise tuning of shocks in experimental campaigns for the double-cone ignition(DCI) scheme of ICF, a compact line-imaging VISAR with an SOP system is designed and implemented at the Shenguang-II upgrade laser facility. The temporal and spatial resolutions of the system are better than 30 ps and 7 μm, respectively. An illumination lens is used to adjust the lighting spot size matching with the target size. A polarization beam splitter and λ/4 waveplate are used to increase the transmission efficiency of our system. The VISAR and SOP work at 660 and 450 nm, respectively, to differentiate the signals from the scattered lights of the drive lasers. The VISAR can measure the shock velocity. At the same time, the SOP system can give the shock timing and relative strength. This system has been used in different DCI campaigns, where the generation and propagation processes of multi-shock are carefully diagnosed.

Compression and acceleration processes of spherical shells in gold cones

Double-cone ignition[Zhang et al.,Phil.Trans.R.Soc.A 378,20200015(2020)]was proposed recently as a novel path for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion using high-power lasers.In this scheme,plasma jets with both high density and high velocity are required for collisions.Here we report preliminary experimental results obtained at the Shenguang-II upgrade laser facility,employing a CHCl shell in a gold cone irradiated with a two-ramp laser pulse.The CHCl shell was pre-compressed by the first laser ramp to a density of 3.75 g/cm^(3)along the isentropic path.Subsequently,the target was further compressed and accelerated by the second laser ramp in the cone.According to the simulations,the plasma jet reached a density of up to 15 g/cm^(3),while measurements indicated a velocity of 126.8±17.1 km/s.The good agreements between experimental data and simulations are documented.

Laser pulse shape designer for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions

Pulse shaping is a powerful tool for mitigating implosion instabilities in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion(ICF).However,the high-dimensional and nonlinear nature of implosions makes the pulse optimization quite challenging.In this research,we develop a machine-learning pulse shape designer to achieve high compression density and stable implosion.The facility-specific laser imprint pattern is considered in the optimization,which makes the pulse design more relevant.The designer is applied to the novel double-cone ignition scheme,and simulation shows that the optimized pulse increases the areal density expectation by 16%in one dimension,and the clean-fuel thickness by a factor of four in two dimensions.This pulse shape designer could be a useful tool for direct-drive ICF instability control.

Prediction of flow patterns during silo discharges using a finite element approach and its preliminary experimental verification

Obtaining a reliable discharge of particulate solids from a storage silo is a prerequisite to securing oper- ational adequacy in solids handling processes. If a silo is poorly designed, an unreliable interrupted discharge often occurs. In this study, an in-house finite element （FE） program was modified to predict the particulate solids flow patterns during discharges from silos, and the effect of a double-cone insert on such flow patterns. In FE modeling, a Eulerian approach was adopted with an assumption of steady-state flow-a state that greatly facilitated investigations on the effects of double-cone inserts on the flow of particulate solids. Predictions were carried out on whether the discharge was in mass flow or funnel flow, associated with the inclination angle of the silo＇s hopper. Predicted results were in agreement with the Jenike Chart, and proved that an upper lateral pressure ratio value gave a better critical hopper half angle to achieve mass flow （EN 1991-4, 2006）. The shape and size of the stagnant zone were further discussed to address the flow channel boundary between the flowing and static solids if the discharge was in a funnel pattern. Results also showed the effects of a double-cone insert on the flow patterns which con- verted silos from funnel flow to mass flow up to a certain hopper inclination angle and would improve the flow pattern even for shallower angles. Experiments were carried out to verify some of the predicted results. Some qualitative comparisons were made between the predicted results and experimental mea- surements, which indicated that further efforts are needed in predicting the shape of the stagnant zone （flow channel boundary） during funnel flow discharges.

Machine-learning guided optimization of laser pulses for direct-drive implosions

The optimization of laser pulse shapes is of great importance and a major challenge for laser direct-drive implosions.In this paper,we propose an efficient intelligent method to perform laser pulse optimization via hydrodynamic simulations guided by the genetic algorithm and random forest algorithm.Compared to manual optimizations,the machine-learning guided method is able to efficiently improve the areal density by a factor of 63%and reduce the in-fiight-aspect ratio by a factor of 30%at the same time.A relationship between the maximum areal density and ion temperature is also achieved by the analysis of the big simulation dataset.This design method has been successfully demonstrated by the2021 summer double-cone ignition experiments conducted at the SG-II upgrade laser facility and has great prospects for the design of other inertial fusion experiments.