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Diagnosing magnetized liner inertial fusion experiments on Z

Hansen, Stephanie B.; Gomez, Matthew R.; Sefkow, Adam B.; Slutz, S.A.; Sinars, Daniel S.; Hahn, K.D.; Harding, Eric H.; Knapp, P.F.; Schmit, Paul S.; Awe, T.J.; McBride, Ryan D.; Jennings, C.A.; Geissel, Matthias G.; Harvey-Thompson, Adam J.; Peterson, K.J.; Rovang, Dean C.; Chandler, Gordon A.; Cooper, Gary W.; Cuneo, M.E.; Herrmann, M.C.; Hess, Mark H.; Johns, Owen J.; Lamppa, Derek C.; Martin, M.R.; Porter, J.L.; Robertson, G.K.; Rochau, G.A.; Ruiz, C.L.; Savage, M.E.; Smith, I.C.; Stygar, W.A.; Vesey, R.A.; Blue, B.E.; Ryutov, D.; Schroen, D.G.; Tomlinson, K.

Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion experiments performed at Sandia's Z facility have demonstrated significant thermonuclear fusion neutron yields (∼1012 DD neutrons) from multi-keV deuterium plasmas inertially confined by slow (∼10 cm/μs), stable, cylindrical implosions. Effective magnetic confinement of charged fusion reactants and products is signaled by high secondary DT neutron yields above 1010. Analysis of extensive power, imaging, and spectroscopic x-ray measurements provides a detailed picture of ∼3 keV temperatures, 0.3 g/cm3 densities, gradients, and mix in the fuel and liner over the 1-2 ns stagnation duration.