Frequency domain laser ultrasound for inertial confinement fusion target wall thickness measurements

In inertial confinement fusion experiments hollow, spherical mm-sized capsules are used as a container for nuclear fuel. To achieve maximum implosion efficiency, a perfect capsule geometry is required. This paper presents a wall thickness measurement method based on zero-group velocity guided elastic wave resonances. They are measured with a non-destructive, contactless frequency domain laser ultrasound microscopy system. Wall thickness measurements along the equator of a high-density carbon capsule with a diameter of around 2 m m and a wall thickness of around 80 µ m excellently agree with infrared interferometry reference measurements. In addition, the multi-resonant nature of a spherical shell is studied by complementing experimental observations with plate dispersion calculations and finite element wave propagation simulations. The presented method is scalable and can be applied to a broad range of target materials, including metals, or metal-doped targets. • Resolved sub-micron thickness variations of mm-scale high-density carbon shells. • Spherical shell acoustic spectrum exhibits plate- and circumferential-resonances. • Dispersion relation contains Lamb-modes superimposed by circumferential resonances. • Zero-group-velocity plate resonances can be isolated for wall thickness determination. • Finite element wave propagation simulation in spherical shell.