Journal Article

Design and construction of a Gamma reaction history diagnostic for the National Ignition Facility

Young, C S, Evans, S C, Mack, J M, Cox, B C, Palagi, M, Stoeffl, W, Tibbitts, A, Herrmann, H W, Tunnell, T W, Frogget, B C, Kaufman, M I, Malone, R M, Kim, Y H, McGillivray, K D

2010

Overview

Gas Cherenkov detectors have been used to convert fusion gammas into photons to record gamma reaction history measurements. These gas detectors include a converter, pressurized gas volume, relay collection optics, and a photon detector. A novel design for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) using 90° off-axis parabolic mirrors efficiently collects signal from fusion gammas with 8-ps time dispersion. Fusion gammas are converted to Compton electrons, which generate broadband Cherenkov light (response is from 250 to 700 nm) in a pressurized gas cell. This light is relayed into a high-speed detector using three parabolic mirrors. The relay optics collect light from a 125-mm-diameter by 600-mm-long interchangeable gas (CO2 or SF6) volume. The parabolic mirrors were electroformed instead of diamond turned to reduce scattering of the UV light. All mirrors are bare aluminum coated for maximum reflectivity. This design incorporates a 4.2-ns time delay that allows the detector to recover from prompt radiation before it records the gamma signal. At NIF, a cluster of four channels will allow for increased dynamic range, as well as different gamma energy thresholds.

• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Subject: Aluminum / Broadband / Cerenkov counters / Converters / Diameters / Diamonds / Electroforming / Gas detectors / Ignition / Photons / Physics / Relay / Time lag / Ultraviolet radiation