NIF progress continues.

Impressive progress continues to be made with initial operations of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) four-beam system. Tests have been conducted into a Precision Diagnostic System for both the fundamental 1.06 micron frequency and at the frequency-tripled frequency.

At the fundamental

frequency, energy levels exceeding 20 kilojoules per beam were achieved, surpassing the design requirement. The total of 83 kilojoules achieved sets a new record for this configuration. Tests at the tripled frequency yielded 10.4 kilojoules from a 13.65 kilojoule fundamental frequency beam (76% conversion efficiency). At 3.9 terawatts, this was the highest power fundamental frequency beam ever fired on the NIP. The overall result scales to 2 MJ for the full 192-beam NIP, compared to the design level of 1.8 MJ. These are the highest energy levels ever achieved in a single beam line at these frequencies.

In a test of operational efficiency, NIF fired three shots per day for three days in a row, giving researchers confidence that the ultimate design target of 700 shots per year will be achieved when NIF becomes fully operational.

For further information, contact NIP project manager Ed Moses (mosesl@llnl.gov).