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Demonstration of ignition-driven radiation transport through a THOR hohlraum

R. S. Lester*, B. M. Haines, H. M. Johns, L. Kot, B. J. Albright, M. Durocher, Y. Kim, J. M. Levesque, K. D. Meaney et al.

S. T. Prisbrey, O. L. Landen, M. E. Martin, M. D. Rosen, E. Dewald, N. Aybar, S. Baxamusa, M. E. Foord, R. Funchess et al.

L. M. Hobbs

S. Vonhof, L. Aghaian, A. Allen, B. Cates, K. Clark, J. Gaut, M. Havre, V. Ho, C. Kong et al.

T. Fehrenbach and C. Wild

S. A. Ricketts, H. F. Robey, R. L. Scott, T. J. Urbatsch, and C. H. Wilde

S. Hayes, R. F. Heeter, K. Kasman, S. Khan, A. L. Kritcher, J. J. Kroll, J. L. Milovich, W. C. Montgomery, K. T. Olson, S. Paqueo, A. Pedretti, N. Roskopf, N. Ruof, and C. V. Young

T. Phipps, M. Ratledge, F. Silva, W. Vakki, and J. Wall

  • *Contact author: RLester@lanl.gov
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Phys. Rev. E 114, L023201 – Published 17 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/k8dz-pjdx

Abstract

The achievement of fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility opens new opportunities for foundational studies in opacity, radiation transport, and high-flux astrophysics in regimes previously unattainable. We have succeeded in the critical enabling step of demonstrating ignition in a hohlraum modified with diagnostic windows that burn through prior to ignition, granting experimental access to the brightest radiation source in the laboratory. This Letter reports the results of a deuterium-tritium-layered capsule implosion that achieved 2.4±0.09 MJ neutron yield in a hohlraum with windows designed to allow the escape of radiation energy from the capsule without significant loss of implosion symmetry, thus establishing a validated platform for next-generation radiation-driven experiments.

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Outline

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Phys. Rev. E 114, L023201– Published 17 August, 2026
  • Received 2 December 2025
  • Accepted 29 June 2026
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