STUDIES ON RADIATION SYMMETRIZATION

Several calculations concerning the feasibility of heavy-ion-driven ho hlraum targets with axial symmetry are presented. Using the model of M urakami and Meyer-ter-Vehn, but with more realistic assumptions for th e geometry, we found that sufficient symmetry will be very difficult t o achieve with only two beam converters, even if shields are introduce d between the converters and the pellet. The additional and much more complicated problem of time dependence of the geometry is tackled with a computer code simulating the various parts of the target as distinc t hydrodynamic systems coupled through the exchange of radiation. The results indicate a large change in geometry even during the first 10 n s of irradiation, which should be taken into account in all symmetry s tudies.