The prospects for high yield ICF with a Z-pinch driven dynamic hohlraum

Recent success with the Sandia Z machine has renewed interest in utilizing fast Z-pinches for ICF. One promising concept places the ICF capsule intern al to the imploding Z-pinch. At machine parameters relevant to achieving hi gh yield, the imploding Z-pinch mass has sufficient opacity to trap radiati on giving rise to a 'dynamic hohlraum'. Our concept utilizes a 12 MJ, 54 MA Z-pinch driver producing a capsule drive temperature exceeding 300 eV to r ealize a 550 MJ thermonuclear yield. We present the current high-yield desi gn and its development that supports high-yield ICF with a Z-pinch driven d ynamic hohlraum. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et m edicales Elsevier SAS.