V. Fatherley, L. Goodwin, D. Schmidt, S. Batha, N. Cordes, V. Geppert-Kleinrath, H. Jorgenson, J. Martinez, T. Murphy, J. Oertel, M. Springstead, C. Wilde, P. Volegov
The LANL neutron imaging and fabrication teams completed the fabrication and inspection of the neutron imaging aperture for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) prior to first use in December 2018. The 16 layer aperture contains an array of 87 openings, manufactured by scribing 100 profiles along 20-cm lengths of thin gold foils. The openings consist of 15 penumbral and 72 triangular apertures. The 16 layers are then assembled into a single 15-mm x 16.6-mm x 200- mm component. Images produced from the array of apertures must be deconvolved in order to remove distortions caused by the extended length of the aperture. In order to deconvolve the image, the as-built aperture profile must first be characterized by measuring the scribed apertures at multiple places along their length. Equipment used for inspections included a white-light interferometer, a confocal laser scanner, and an optical coordinate measuring machine. Both sides of each layer were individually inspected, using complementary and overlapping capabilities in order to overcome the aspect ratio and feature size challenges. The result was a three dimensional, as-built model with the interior layer inspection detail overlaid to create a complete as-built model of the aperture array. This paper provides an overview of the purpose of the aperture array and a detailed discussion of the aperture inspection strategies, technology processes and challenges.
Frank Lopez, Hans Herrmann, Ramon Leeper, Steve Batha, John Oertel, Jeffrey Griego, Brian Steinfeld, Paul Polk, Lynne Goodwin, Valerie Fatherley, Thomas Archuleta, Robert Aragonez, Benjamin Pederson, John Celeste, Robin Hibbard, Arthur Carpenter, Jose Hernandez, Jorge Carrera, Hesham Khater, Eric Downing, Nicholas St. Hilaire, Shiva Sitaraman
Fielding the LANL third-generation Gas Cherenkov Detector (GCD-3) at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) revealed an
array of complex engineering challenges. Fielding the GCD-3 Detector in a 3.9 meter re-entrant Well on the NIF Target
Chamber required the development of a specialized detector deployment system named the WellDIM3.9m Diagnostic
Manipulator (WellDIM). The most stringent design requirement entailed a no-load/no-contact condition with the Well, which
dictated that all seismic loads be transferred to the Target Chamber port flange. The WellDIM transports the GCD-3 into the
Well at a distance of 3.9m from Target Chamber Center. The GCD-3 Detector, outfitted with additional shielding to mitigate
higher NIF backgrounds, will serve as a prototype for the future, heavily shielded “Super-GCD”.
V. Fatherley, S. Batha, C. Danly, L. Goodwin, H. Herrmann, H. Jorgenson, J. Martinez, F. Merrill, J. Oertel, D. Schmidt, P. Volegov, C. Wilde, D. Fittinghoff, M. Ayers, D. Barker, G. Grim, R. Hibbard, N. Shingleton, M. Vitalich
A new neutron imager, known as Neutron Imaging System North Pole, has been fielded to image the neutrons produced in the burn region of imploding fusion capsules at the National Ignition Facility. The resolution and alignment requirements and parameters that drive the design of this system are similar to the pre-existing equatorial system, there are significant changes. This work describes the parameters and limitations driving the design of this system, discusses the metrology and alignment, and shows some data from the instrument.
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