Thrust 4 uses mid-scale high-intensity laser facilities, X-ray free electron lasers, and synchrotron sources to experimentally validate the predictive capabilities of numerical codes utilized to design Intertial Fusion Energy (IFE) power plant targets.
These studies test the performance of targets fabricated in Thrust 3 and determine critical, previously unknown physics properties of IFE target ablator and nuclear fuel materials. Leveraging world-class experimental expertise, Thrust 4 utilizes high-resolution X-ray imaging, atomic and ion kinetic energy spectroscopies, and novel scattering techniques to characterize hydrocarbon foams and nanowire structures with 200 nm spatial resolution.
Measurements constrain equations of state, adiabat, and compressibility, delivering essential data to support the Thrust 1 design effort. Furthermore, nanowire array target studies at relativistic laser intensities show efficient conversion of laser energy into kinetic energy of MeV ions, informing ignition estimates and future target designs.
Static foam imaging
Hancock et al., Phys. Plasmas 32, 102707 (2025)
Shock dynamics in foams
Parisuaña et al., Phys. Plasmas 32, 082707 (2025)
Time resolved X-Ray imaging of hydrodynamics instability growth
Bouffetier, Valdivia et al., (in prep) 2025.
Proton and Deuteron Acceleration I ~ 3x 10¹ W cm⁻²
Laser energy coupling into nanowire arrays
Neutron generation
S. Wang et al. Physics of Plasmas, 32:063106, (2025)
