Enhanced NIF neutron activation diagnostics

• Published in: Review of scientific instruments Vol. 83; no. 10; p. 10D315
• Main Authors: Yeamans, C B, Bleuel, D L, Bernstein, L A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2012
• ISSN: 1089-7623
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4739230

The NIF neutron activation diagnostic suite relies on removable activation samples, leading to operational inefficiencies and a fundamental lower limit on the half-life of the activated product that can be observed. A neutron diagnostic system measuring activation of permanently installed samples could remove these limitations and significantly enhance overall neutron diagnostic capabilities. The physics and engineering aspects of two proposed systems are considered: one measuring the (89)Zr/(89 m)Zr isomer ratio in the existing Zr activation medium and the other using potassium zirconate as the activation medium. Both proposed systems could improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the current system by at least a factor of 5 and would allow independent measurement of fusion core velocity and fuel areal density.