Skip to main content

Plasma Science Advancing Knowledge in the National Interest (2007) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Appendix C: National Ignition Facility
Pages 226-229

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 226...
... to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of the nation's nuclear stockpile without underground nuclear testing. The NIF's role in the stewardship program is to provide relevant data for the weapons program and to test our scientific understanding of the physics of nuclear weapon explosions through successful fusion ignition experiments in the laboratory.
Read the entire page →
From page 227...
... When completed, the NIF will be the nation's highest-power MJ-class HED physics facility; it is being built primarily for weapons-relevant HED physics research, including ICF. Up to 15 percent of the laser time is planned to be available for basic science experiments.
Read the entire page →
From page 228...
... Understanding the physics of the ignition process and the dy­ namics of matter under HED conditions, together with the HED materials data that will be provided by the NIF, will allow supercomputer modeling tools to be used by our nuclear stewards to assess and certify the aging stockpile without carrying out actual nuclear tests. For example, NIF experiments will investigate the physics regimes associated with radiation transport, secondary implosion, and ignition and will enable testing the consequences for weapons operation of the effects of aging of some weapon components.
Read the entire page →
From page 229...
... This strategy required development of several technologies: full-aperture (40-cm) optical switches, a full-aperture deformable mirror for wave front correction, full aperture potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP)
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • national ignition
  • stockpile stewardship
  • stewardship program
  • power amplifier
  • ignition experiments

  • hed materials
  • science experiments
  • hed physics
  • main amplifier
  • successful ignition

  • required development
  • efficient flashlamps
  • energy source
  • spot ignition
  • modeling tools

  • underground nuclear
  • laboratory scientists
  • security administration
  • optics assembly
  • frequency conversion

  • nova laser
  • hot spot
  • laser energy
  • directly relevant
  • dihydrogen phosphate

  • national nuclear
  • power lasers
  • pursued intensively
  • quickly installed
  • help maintain


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.