Results from the first implementation of a DT3He gas-filled thin-glass capsule backlighter for charged-particle radiography at the National Ignition Facility
G. D. Sutcliffe, B. B. Pollock, C. Walsh, D. J. Strozzi, G. F. Swadling, R. Merlo, D. M. Holunga, N. Orsi, D. Culbertson, P. J. Adrian, Y. Lawrence, S. G. Dannhoff, K. Bauer, E. Doeg, M. Gatu-Johnson, C. K. Li, R. D. Petrasso, W. A. Farmer, J. S. Ross, J. D. MoodyA DT3He gas-filled capsule implosion-based tri-particle backlighter has been fielded on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) for the first time. This platform extends the implosion-based D3He proton backlighters developed at OMEGA and later fielded on NIF to probe high-energy-density plasmas. Its uses include charged-particle radiography for measuring electric and magnetic fields and stopping-power measurements. In addition to the 14.7 and 3.0 MeV protons produced by D3He-filled capsules, the DT3He platform produces a 9.5 MeV T3He deuteron, which is less susceptible to magnetic and electric deflection and to scattering than the 3.0 MeV DD proton, making it attractive for radiography of dense, high-field plasmas often found on NIF. During this first deployment on NIF, the measured D3He-proton yield was adequate for proton radiography, while the T3He-deuteron yield was low and will be increased in future experiments. This paper documents the implementation and performance of the DT3He backlighter platform on NIF.