John R Nuckolls

US Patent:

7707819, May 4, 2010

Filed:

Sep 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/947815

Inventors:

James A. Viecelli - Orinda CA, US
Lowell L. Wood - Simi Valley CA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
John H. Nuckolls - Danville CA, US
Phillip F. Pagoria - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Livermore CA

International Classification:

C06D 5/06
C06B 43/00
C06B 25/34

US Classification:

60205, 149 22, 149 92

Abstract:

Hollow RX-08HD cylindrical charges were loaded with boron and PTFE, in the form of low-bulk density powders or powders dispersed in a rigid foam matrix. Each charge was initiated by a Comp B booster at one end, producing a detonation wave propagating down the length of the cylinder, crushing the foam or bulk powder and collapsing the void spaces. The PdV work done in crushing the material heated it to high temperatures, expelling it in a high velocity fluid jet. In the case of boron particles supported in foam, framing camera photos, temperature measurements, and aluminum witness plates suggest that the boron was completely vaporized by the crush wave and that the boron vapor turbulently mixed with and burned in the surrounding air. In the case of PTFE powder, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of residues recovered from fragments of a granite target slab suggest that heating was sufficient to dissociate the PTFE to carbon vapor and molecular fluorine which reacted with the quartz and aluminum silicates in the granite to form aluminum oxide and mineral fluoride compounds.

US Patent:

43767524, Mar 15, 1983

Filed:

Sep 2, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/609639

Inventors:

John H. Nuckolls - Livermore CA
Albert R. Thiessen - Livermore CA
Glen H. Dahlbacka - Livermore CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G21B 100

US Classification:

376152

Abstract:

Foam encapsulated laser-fusion targets wherein a quantity of thermonuclear fuel is embedded in low density, microcellular foam which serves as an electron conduction channel for symmetrical implosion of the fuel by illumination of the target by one or more laser beams. The fuel, such as DT, is contained within a hollow shell constructed of glass, for example, with the foam having a cell size of preferably no greater than 2. mu. m, a density of 0. 065 to 0. 6. times. 10. sup. 3 kg/m. sup. 3, and external diameter of less than 200. mu. m.

US Patent:

46876189, Aug 18, 1987

Filed:

Sep 2, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/609841

Inventors:

John H. Nuckolls - Livermore CA
Albert R. Thiessen - Livermore CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G21B 100

US Classification:

376152

Abstract:

A laser target comprising a thermonuclear fuel capsule composed of a centrally located quantity of fuel surrounded by at least one or more layers or shells of material for forming an atmosphere around the capsule by a low energy laser prepulse. The fuel may be formed as a solid core or hollow shell, and, under certain applications, a pusher-layer or shell is located intermediate the fuel and the atmosphere forming material. The fuel is ignited by symmetrical implosion via energy produced by a laser, or other energy sources such as an electron beam machine or ion beam machine, whereby thermonuclear burn of the fuel capsule creates energy for applications such as generation of electricity via a laser fusion reactor.