The Nuclear Imaging System at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) collects primary and downscattered neutron, x-ray, and gamma-ray images of inertial confinement fusion implosions. Penumbral and pinholeprojection images are recorded using scintillators coupled to fast-gated intensified cameras. Successful reconstruction relies on accurate characterization of the imaging system sensitivity, which can vary by up to a factor of 2 across the field of view. Historically, this has been accomplished by using NIF shots without the aperture to uniformly illuminate the detector, or to project onto it a grid pattern from a fiducial plate to correct for detector sensitivity and optical system aberrations, respectively. However, frequent changes to the imaging system due to equipment failures or vibrations within the building have increased the need for calibrations, which are limited in availability to approximately once per year because they require sacrificing imaging data on a neutron-producing shot. We present development work on an optical calibration system that will enable the collection of this data without that requirement promptly, easily, and at regular intervals.
We have recently demonstrated significant improvements to the resolution and sensitivity of the NIF gamma imaging system by replacing the existing EJ262 plastic scintillator with the Ce-doped gadolinium garnet transparent ceramic scintillator GYGAG. Penumbral imaging of inelastic gammas emitted during inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments at NIF can be used to recover the time integrated spatial distribution of the remaining shell during the fusion burn, the technique is therefore a critical diagnostic for understanding the failure modes and quality of NIF implosions. In this work we discuss GEANT4 calculations of the relative sensitivities of GYGAG and EJ262 as well as rolled edge measurements made on NIF shot N221204 in December 2022, for the purpose of directly comparing the spatial resolution of each scintillator in-situ.
V. Fatherley, L. Goodwin, D. Schmidt, S. Batha, N. Cordes, V. Geppert-Kleinrath, H. Jorgenson, J. Martinez, T. Murphy, J. Oertel, M. Springstead, C. Wilde, P. Volegov
The LANL neutron imaging and fabrication teams completed the fabrication and inspection of the neutron imaging aperture for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) prior to first use in December 2018. The 16 layer aperture contains an array of 87 openings, manufactured by scribing 100 profiles along 20-cm lengths of thin gold foils. The openings consist of 15 penumbral and 72 triangular apertures. The 16 layers are then assembled into a single 15-mm x 16.6-mm x 200- mm component. Images produced from the array of apertures must be deconvolved in order to remove distortions caused by the extended length of the aperture. In order to deconvolve the image, the as-built aperture profile must first be characterized by measuring the scribed apertures at multiple places along their length. Equipment used for inspections included a white-light interferometer, a confocal laser scanner, and an optical coordinate measuring machine. Both sides of each layer were individually inspected, using complementary and overlapping capabilities in order to overcome the aspect ratio and feature size challenges. The result was a three dimensional, as-built model with the interior layer inspection detail overlaid to create a complete as-built model of the aperture array. This paper provides an overview of the purpose of the aperture array and a detailed discussion of the aperture inspection strategies, technology processes and challenges.
Neutron imagers based on thick apertures have become important diagnostics for the shape and size of the burning and cold fuel regions of inertial confinement fusion sources for high-energy density physics. Over time, the designs of these apertures have changed to meet the requirements of newer sources and taken advantage of improvements in manufacturing and alignment technology. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of thick apertures for neutron imaging at laser-driven ICF facilities. We describe the parameters that define the apertures and the apertures that have been fabricated and fielded. We also discuss the lessons learned with each iteration. We also discuss the impact that added features such as collinear or near-collinear γ-ray and x-ray imaging systems have had on the designs of the aperture arrays.
Neutron imaging is a powerful diagnostic to study inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) using neutrons emitted in the fusion reactions. Analysis of time-gated images of the primary fusion (14.1 MeV) and down-scattered (6-12 MeV) neutrons based on their time-of-flight allows for the reconstruction of the burning hot spot undergoing fusion and the surrounding cold fuel. The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Advanced Imaging team has been providing these images since 2011. Now, two additional lines of sight are being designed and built for NIF to allow three-dimensional reconstructions. Neutron imaging relies on the conversion of neutrons into light to be captured by an imaging system through the use of a scintillator. While the current neutron imaging system utilizes a fiber scintillator array, a newly designed imaging system will consist of a thick monolithic scintillator and custom-designed lenses to collect the light. The custom lens has to resolve an image produced in the thick volume of the scintillator and therefore needs a large depth of field.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.