The design of the OMEGA cryogenic target system

General Atomics is designing and building the OMEGA Cryogenic Target System (Fig. 1) for the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The purpose of this system is to deliver millimeter sized polymer shell targets to the center of the target chamber for inertial confinement fusion experiments. Prior to insertion, these targets are filled to pressures as high as 1500 atm with hydrogen isotopes (DT), the gas is cryogenically condensed, and the condensed material is layered to form a uniform inner shell. GA has demonstrated the successful filling with D/sub 2/ of plastic targets to 1100 atm, cooling, and cold transport utilizing prototype equipment. In addition to proving the viability of the proposed fill process, the prototypes have led to significant equipment simplifications and process improvements for the University of Rochester system.