High-Energy-Density Physics Study Report A Comprehensive Study of the Role of High-Energy-Density Physics in the Stockpile Stewardship Program April 6, 2001 High-Energy-Density Physics Study Report A Comprehensive Study of the Role of High-Energy-Density Physics in the Stockpile Stewardship Program April 6, 2001 National Nuclear Security Administration U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585 First Printing, April 9, 2001 Second Printing, April 11, 2001 Third Printing, April 24, 2001 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS . .i T PREFACE . v A EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . vii B 1 STUDY PURPOSE AND METHODOLOGY . 1 1.1 WORKSHOP METHODOLOGY . .3 L 1.2 QUESTIONS POSED TO FOCUS THE WORKSHOP . .5 1.3 HIGH-ENERGY-DENSITY PHYSICS PROGRAM STUDY . .7 E 2 THE STOCKPILE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM . 9 2.1 THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH OF THE STOCKPILE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. .12 O 2.2 DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES OF THE SSP . .15 F 2.2.1 Annual assessment and certification of the stockpile . .15 2.2.2 Recruiting and Retaining Critically Skilled Personnel into the Stockpile Stewardship Program . .16 C 3 OVERVIEW OF THE BASELINE HIGH-ENERGY-DENSITY PHYSICS PROGRAM. 19 O 3.1 MISSION OF THE HIGH-ENERGY-DENSITY PHYSICS PROGRAM . .21 3.2 PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND PARTICIPATION. .21 N 3.3 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. .22 3.4 GOALS OF THE HIGH-ENERGY-DENSITY PHYSICS PROGRAM . .23 T 3.4.1 Execute high-energy-density weapons physics experiments required by the SSP for E ensuring the performance and safety of the nuclear stockpile. .24 3.4.2 Demonstrate ignition at NIF by 2010. .25 N 3.4.3 Attract, train, and retain outstanding talent to the HEDP Program and the SSP. .27 3.4.4 Complete construction of the NIF Project and the Z-backlighter on the current cost T and schedule baseline.. .28 3.4.5 Develop and fabricate the cryogenic systems and diagnostics required for NIF.. .29 S 3.4.6 Develop advanced x-ray sources for nuclear weapons effects testing. .31 3.4.7 Developing options, in the 2008-2010 timeframe, for a next-generation, high-yield facility. .33 3.4.8 Develop the advanced laser and pulsed-power technologies required for NIF and a potential next generation pulsed-power machine, respectively. .33 3.4.9 Maintain the U.S. Preeminence in HED science and Support Broader National Science Goals.. .34 3.4.10 Maintain Awareness of International Activities and Nurture Appropriate International Collaborations in HEDP Science and Technology. .35 3.5 INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS . .35 3.6 SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS REVIEWS . .36 4 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE HEDP PROGRAM TO DATE . 41 4.1 WEAPONS PHYSICS AND CODE VALIDATION . 43 4.2 IGNITION. .44 4.3 HIGH YIELD. .47 4.4 WEAPONS EFFECTS . .49 4.5 BASIC SCIENCE . .50 4.6 SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGIES. .52 4.7 SUMMARY. .54 Table of Contents - i 5 ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR SATISFYING THE HEDP MISSION . 55 T 5.1 LLNL – ACCELERATED NIF . 57 5.2 SNL – Z REFURBISHMENT/REDUCED NIF. 59 A 5.3 LANL – NIF ENGINEERING DEMONSTRATION/Z REFURBISHMENT . 62 B 5.4 SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVES STUDIED . 63 6 ANALYSIS, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 65 L 6.1 ANALYSIS OF THE HEDP BASELINE PROGRAM AND PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES . 67 E 6.2 FINDINGS . 70 6.3 RECOMMENDATIONS . 81 O BIBLIOGRAPHY . 85 F APPENDIX A – Workshop Agenda . A-1 APPENDIX B – Baseline HEDP Program Description . B-1 C APPENDIX C – The Stockpile Stewardship Program Business Model. C-1 APPENDIX D – Descriptions Of HEDP Facilities . D-1 O D.1 NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY – LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL N LABORATORY . D-1 D.2 Z PULSED-POWER ACCELERATOR – SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES. T . .D-3 D.3 OMEGA LASER FACILITY – UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER . D-5 E D.4 SATURN ACCELERATOR – SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES . D-7 D.5 NIKE LASER FACILITY – NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY . D-9 N D.6 TRIDENT – LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY . D-11 D.7 ATLAS – LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY . D-13 T D.8 JANUS – LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY . D-15 S APPENDIX E – Deployment Strategy For The National Ignition Facility . E-1 APPENDIX F – Commissariat À L’Énergie Atomique (CEA) Statement On High- Energy-Density Physics . F-1 APPENDIX G – United Kingdom Statement On HEDP . G-1 APPENDIX H – Previous Reviews. H-1 APPENDIX I – Laboratories Alternatives . .I-1 I.1 LANL ALTERNATIVE . .I-1 I.2 LLNL ALTERNATIVE . .I-5 I.3 SNL ALTERNATIVE. .I-11 APPENDIX J – Alternatives Guidance Letter . .J-1 APPENDIX K – Glossary And Acronyms . K-1 Table of Contents - ii Table of Figures Figure 3-1. A national program to investiage weapons-related phenomena . 24 T Figure 3-2. Experiments needed to achieve ignition at NIF . 26 A Figure 3-3. Schedule for availability of beams at NIF . 29 Figure 4-1. Predictive control of symmetric implosions . 45 B Figure 4-2. Smoothing of Omega laser beams . 46 L Figure 4-3. Record x-ray powers on the Z accelerator . 49 Figure 4-4. Scaled laboratory astrophysics experiments . 51 E Figure 4-5. Cryogenic layering experiments. 53 Figure 4-6. FY 2000 facility usage at Omega and Z. 54 Figure 5-1. Optimized NIF schedule. 57 O Figure 5-2. Beam availability at NIF with a pause at 48 beams . 58 Figure 5-3. Beam availability at NIF with a pause at 96 beams . 58 F Figure 5-4. Beam availability at NIF with a pause at 120 beams . 59 Figure 5-5. Performance enhancements of the Z accelerator . 61 Figure 5-6. Proposed Z refurbishment schedule. 62 C Figure D-1. Schematic of the National Ignition Facility . D-1 O Figure D-2. The Z accelerator . D-4 Figure D-3. Schematic of the Omega laser . D-6 N Figure D-4. The Saturn facility. D-7 T Figure D-5. The Nike laser. D-10 Figure D-6. The Trident laser. D-11 E Figure D-7. Atlas . D-14 Figure D-8. The Janus laser . D-15 N Figure E-1. NIF deployment details. ..