10MJ to 2MJ: NIF and the background behind the justifications and margin for the current design.
Many formerly at the lab have described a series of events that ultimately led to the current 2MJ design. From what was known at the time, 10MJ was the energy needed. That kind of energy is easy to deliver using high explosives, for example. But I'm confused as to how a much lower energy delivered by a method (laser) untested could be justified as having sufficient margins. Does 10MJ provide overly massive margins for ignition? Does anyone have open literature references for better explaining the decisions and events leading to the current design?
16 comments:
The lab hides behind a false veil of secrecy for a reason most of you already know... NIF is a sham. Other labs went along with the charade as part of the whole weapons scientist welfare program. There is no valid justification. The people who went along with the lie are just as culpable as the NIF scientists. Well... Not AS culpable. But you get the point. Only NIF is responsible for propagating the lies. The others are free to make an honest living.
The author of the original post does not comprehend nuclear physics. 10MJ of explosives does not interact with material in the same way as 2MJ of 500TW hitting a holhram.
Comparing apples to angels.
He also does not understand national security. The reasons for selecting the design parameters for thermonuclear ignition are necessarily a verboten topic.
Will not be much to discuss in this thread. Those who know, can't. Those who don't know, can. Either way, no knowledge,
Feeble attempt at phishing, Charlie.
How's the weather at Lop Nor this time of year?
Cold as hell on the surface -18/-5. Toasty in the missile bays. Thanks for asking.
Gung ho fat choi
If it is verboten topic, then many LLNL scientists need to have their clearances stripped for violating those same rules.
Enough with the smoke and mirrors. We're talking about the 10 MJ laser ignition facility design. Nice attempt to dodge the issue. So pathetic. I want to laugh my ass off at that one. Oh wait wasn't that the original name attached to the design? The "Laugh My F Ass Off" facility later abbreviated to LMF. But NIF is guaranteed to work with a fifth of the power. After all, the best laser EoS measurements one can buy is feeding the simulations. Someone do something about the propaganda trolls. So bad at the propaganda game. Almost think they are trolls doing a bad job on purpose to discredit the lab.
Those if us who DO know and are well informed CAN say that the reasoning is riddled with confirmation bias and very poorly done analysis.
Now I get it. You are a LANL guy who competes for funds and are pissed because LLNL got funds you think you deserved. Fair enough.
Your argument that a 10MJ facility was part of a conceptual design predates 1994. My memory begins in 1994 with 2.4MJ, which is readily achievable with the current facility if the main amps glass and cap banks are filled out. A significant, but concievable upgrade, though probably not worthwhile. Advancements will come in the short term through target design and in the longer term with new codes, drivers or preignitors.
As for the "guarantee of ignition".
I doubt whether the program has made such a guarantee. More likely the claims were weaker, using the qualifiers appropriate to such a large undertaking.
What your real issue is, isn't 20 year old conceptual designs, its that your favorite undertaking has been set aside while the country concentrates on this one.
Mistakes made? Regularly. Sour grapes? 20-year old vinegar.
DiFi likes NIF. So my opinion kinda doesn't matter much.
The citizens problem in a democracy is that there are soooo many other citizens.
And not enough tits.
We need NIF in order to do strength measurements that cannot be done credibly on any other platforms. In fact many at the lab have stated that they will only accept measurement data for EoS coming from NIF as they do not believe any of the gas gun or pulsed power results. So it is obvious why we need NIF in support of stockpile stewardship.
Yeah a number of mistakes were made. The PR oversell was a mistake. That oversell continues to this day, however. Must be more of a "mistakes were made, screw you, nobody tells us what to do" kind of admission of guilt.
They really called it "LMF?" That is just too funny
No, it's more of a "Yes mistakes were made... Having to do with your dad 's condom breaking after many hippy protests ago - and oh the regret and eternal damnation" kind of acknowledgement.n You naysayers are all mistakes, much to our regret. Diane Feinstein hates you all, and she is a liberal too. Get a job.
Any more info about the LMFAO design? It was 10MJ indirect drive?
S-T-R-O-K-E (KMS)
No pun intended
Post a Comment