Effects of Variable X-Ray Preheat Shielding in Indirectly Driven Implosions

The performance of indirectly driven fusion capsules has been improved by mid Z doping of the plastic capsule ablator. The doping increases x-ray preheat shielding leading to a more isentropic compression, higher convergence, and higher neutron yield. A 4× increase in neutron yield is both calculated and observed as the Ge doping level is increased from 0% to 3% by atomic fraction. A predicted 40% decrease in x-ray image core size with increasing Ge content is confirmed.