AN INVESTIGATION OF THE OPACITY OF HIGH-Z MIXTURE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION HOHLRAUM DESIGN

We use an unresolved transition array model to investigate the opaciti es of high-Z materials and their mixtures which are of interest to ind irect-drive inertial confinement fusion hohlraum design. In particular , we report on calculated opacities for pure Au, Gd, and Sm, as well a s Au-Sm and Au-Gd mixtures. Our results indicate that mixtures of Au-G d and Au-Sm can produce a significant enhancement in the Rosseland mea n opacity. Radiation hydrodynamics simulations of Au radiation burnthr ough are also presented, and compared with NOVA experimental data. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.