COMPTON-SCATTERING IN INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION PLASMAS

The effect of Compton scattering on the exchange of energy between ele ctrons and radiation in inertial confinement fusion targets is calcula ted using a simple model involving a Fokker-Planck description. It is found that although prior to thermonuclear burn, the difference in ene rgy in the radiation field calculated with and without Compton scatter ing is negligible, at the higher temperatures obtained during the burn phase the effect of Compton scattering is more significant with an in crease of up to about 20% in the radiation energy at an electron tempe rature of 50 keV. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd