The National Ignition Facility (NIF) will have a large suite of sophis
ticated target diagnostics. This will allow thoroughly diagnosed exper
iments to be performed both at the ignition and pre-ignition levels. A
s part of the national effort Los Alamos National Laboratory will desi
gn, construct and implement a number of diagnostics for the NIF. This
paper describes Los Alamos contributions to the ''phase 1'' diagnostic
s. Phase 1 represents the most fundamental and basic measurement syste
ms that will form the core for most work on the NIF. The Los Alamos ef
fort falls into four categories: moderate to hard X-ray time-resolved
imaging; neutron spectroscopy-primarily with neutron time flight devic
es; burn diagnostics utilizing gamma ray measurements; and testing mea
surement concepts (e.g., some soft X-ray ideas) on the TRIDENT laser s
ystem at Los Alamos. Because of the large blast, debris and radiation
environment, the design of high resolution X-ray imaging systems prese
nt significant challenges. Systems with close target proximity require
special protection and methods for such protection are described. The
system design specifications based on expected target performance par
ameters are also described. Diagnosis of nuclear yield and burn will b
e essential to the NIF operation. Nuclear reaction diagnosis utilizing
both neutron and gamma ray detection is discussed. The Los Alamos TRI
DENT laser system will be used extensively for the development of new
measurement concepts and diagnostic instrumentation. Some of its poten
tial roles in the development of diagnostics for NIF are given.