LLNL, Livermore, California, USA
Experiments, or "shots", conducted at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) are discrete events that occur over a very short time frame (tens of ns) separated by hours. Each shot is part of a larger campaign of shots to advance scientific understanding in high-energy-density physics. In one campaign, energy from the 192-beam, 1.8-Megajoule pulsed laser in NIF will be used to implode a hydrogen-filled target to demonstrate controlled fusion. Each shot generates gigabytes of data from over 30 diagnostics that measure optical, x-ray, and nuclear phenomena from the imploding target. Because of the low duty cycle of shots, and the thousands of adjustments for each shot (target type, composition, shape; laser beams used, their power profiles, pointing; diagnostic systems used, their configuration, calibration, settings) it is imperative that we accurately define all equipment prior to the shot. Following the shot, and the data acquisition by the automatic control system, it is equally imperative that we archive, analyze and visualize the results within the required 30 minutes post-shot. Results must be securely stored, approved, web-visible and downloadable in order to facilitate subsequent publication. To-date NIF has successfully fired over 2,500 system shots, and thousands of test firings and dry-runs. We will present an overview of the highly-flexible and scalable campaign setup and management systems that control all aspects of the experimental NIF shot-cycle, from configuration of drive lasers all the way through presentation of analyzed results.
LLNL-CONF-476112
