Target Fabrication of Colliding Planar Shock Targets_Riddles

The target fabrication team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) undertook the design, manufacturing, and assembly of three Colliding Planar Shock (CPS) targets.These targets marked the first test of a novel design aimed at quantifying carbon ionization at extreme densities, essential for benchmarking ionization models in the warm dense matter regime.Each CPS target was comprised of a meticulously crafted physics package in a symmetrical arrangement of components, including two gold halfraums, gold washers, planar high-density carbon (HDC), and plastic washers that were fit to either end of an HDC cylinder (1.5mm tall, 0.75mm diameter).Adhering to stringent physics requirements, the team did not use a bonding agent, opting instead for an interference fit between the HDC planar part, gold washer, and HDC cylinder, a key innovation that was made possible by target fabrication's highly skilled precision machining team.The extensive use of gold dimpled shielding necessitated further development of a specialized process that utilized a heated hydraulic press in tandem with a rigorous metrology routine that ensured compliance with dimpled shield specifications outlined by the National Ignition Facility (NIF).The targets were successfully fielded on the NIF and delivered data with enhanced clarity to the physics team.The targets are a testament to the continued hard work, attention to detail, and innovation of the target fabrication team.