Progress in shock wave diagnostic technology based on velocity interferometers for laser inertial confinement fusion

Wang Feng; Li Yulong; Guan Zanyang; Peng Xiaoshi; Liu Xiangming; Yang Dong; Yang Jiamin; Zhao Zongqing

doi:10.1063/5.0249311

Volume 11 Issue 2

Mar. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Matter and Radiation at Extremes > 2026 > 11(2): 023401

Wang Feng, Li Yulong, Guan Zanyang, Peng Xiaoshi, Liu Xiangming, Yang Dong, Yang Jiamin, Zhao Zongqing. Progress in shock wave diagnostic technology based on velocity interferometers for laser inertial confinement fusion[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2026, 11(2): 023401. doi: 10.1063/5.0249311

Citation:

Wang Feng, Li Yulong, Guan Zanyang, Peng Xiaoshi, Liu Xiangming, Yang Dong, Yang Jiamin, Zhao Zongqing. Progress in shock wave diagnostic technology based on velocity interferometers for laser inertial confinement fusion[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2026, 11(2): 023401. doi: 10.1063/5.0249311

Citation:

Wang Feng, Li Yulong, Guan Zanyang, Peng Xiaoshi, Liu Xiangming, Yang Dong, Yang Jiamin, Zhao Zongqing. Progress in shock wave diagnostic technology based on velocity interferometers for laser inertial confinement fusion[J]. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 2026, 11(2): 023401. doi: 10.1063/5.0249311

PDF( 15094 KB)

Progress in shock wave diagnostic technology based on velocity interferometers for laser inertial confinement fusion

doi: 10.1063/5.0249311

National Key Laboratory of Plasma Physics, Laser Fusion Research Center, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China

More Information

Corresponding author: a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: lfrc_wangfeng@163.com; 2013may6th@sina.com; and gzy0707@mail.ustc.edu.cn
Received Date: 2024-11-17
Accepted Date: 2025-12-15

Available Online: 2026-03-01

Publish Date: 2026-03-01

Abstract

Abstract

Laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is an important experimental platform for high-energy-density physics research under extreme conditions. In ICF research, high-quality shock waves are key to fusion energy release. The velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR) is the most important diagnostic technique for measuring quantities such as shock wave and particle velocities with high precision and high spatiotemporal resolution. This paper provides a detailed introduction to the various configurations of VISAR on 10 and 100 kJ-level laser facilities in China, including Line VISAR, Dual-Axis VISAR, Wide-Angle VISAR, and Compressed Ultrafast Photography-VISAR. Recent advances and applications of VISAR diagnostics at these laser facilities are presented, and the future trend of development of high-spatiotemporal-resolution velocity diagnostic technology is described.

Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
Author Contributions
Feng Wang: Data curation (equal); Funding acquisition (equal); Project administration (equal); Resources (equal); Supervision (equal); Validation (equal); Visualization (equal); Writing – original draft (equal); Writing – review & editing (equal). Yulong Li: Data curation (equal); Resources (equal); Writing – original draft (equal). Zanyang Guan: Supervision (equal); Validation (equal); Visualization (equal). Xiaoshi Peng: Project administration (equal); Resources (equal); Supervision (equal). Xiangming Liu: Project administration (equal); Supervision (equal); Validation (equal). Dong Yang: Project administration (equal); Resources (equal). Jiamin Yang: Project administration (equal); Supervision (equal). Zongqing Zhao: Project administration (equal); Supervision (equal).
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

FullText(HTML)

References(41)

References

[1]	R. Betti and O. A. Hurricane, “Inertial-confinement fusion with lasers,” Nat. Phys. 12, 435–448 (2016).10.1038/nphys3736
[2]	J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, “Prospects of inertial confinement fusion,” Plasma Phys. Contr. Fusion 39, B39 (1997).10.1088/0741-3335/39/12b/004
[3]	E. I. Moses, “Ignition on the national ignition facility: A path towards inertial fusion energy,” Nucl. Fusion 49, 104022 (2009).10.1088/0029-5515/49/10/104022
[4]	D. D. Meyerhofer, R. L. McCrory, R. Betti, T. R. Boehly, D. T. Casey et al., “High-performance inertial confinement fusion target implosions on omega,” Nucl. Fusion 51, 053010 (2011).10.1088/0029-5515/51/5/053010
[5]	M. M. Basko, “Inertial confinement fusion: Steady progress towards ignition and high gain (summary talk),” Nucl. Fusion 45, S38–S47 (2005).10.1088/0029-5515/45/10/s04
[6]	A. B. Zylstra, A. L. Kritcher, O. A. Hurricane, D. A. Callahan, J. E. Ralph et al., “Experimental achievement and signatures of ignition at the national ignition facility,” Phys. Rev. E 106(2), 025202 (2022).10.1103/physreve.106.025202
[7]	D. Clery, “Explosion marks laser fusion breakthrough,” Science 378, 1154 (2022).10.1126/science.adg2854
[8]	L. M. Barker and R. E. Hollenbach, “Laser interferometer for measuring high velocities of any reflecting surface,” J. Appl. Phys. 43, 4669–4675 (1972).10.1063/1.1660986
[9]	L. M. Barker, “The development of the visar, and its use in shock compression science,” AIP Conf. Proc. 505, 11–18 (2000).10.1063/1.1303413
[10]	W. F. Hemsing, “Velocity sensing interferometer (VISAR) modification,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 50(1), 73 (1979).10.1063/1.1135672
[11]	J. E. Miller, T. R. Boehly, A. Melchior, D. D. Meyerhofer, P. M. Celliers et al., “Streaked optical pyrometer system for laser-driven shock-wave experiments on omega,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78(3), 034903 (2007).10.1063/1.2712189
[12]	R. E. Olson, R. J. Leeper, A. Nobile, and J. A. Oertel, “Preheat effects on shock propagation in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion ablator materials,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 91(23), 235002 (2003).10.1103/physrevlett.91.235002
[13]	A. M. Manuel, M. Millot, L. G. Seppala, G. Frieders, Z. Zeid et al., “Upgrades to the visar-streaked optical pyrometer (SOP) system on NIF,” Proc. SPIE 9591, 959104 (2015).10.1117/12.2189122
[14]	P. M. Celliers, D. K. Bradley, G. W. Collins, D. G. Hicks, T. R. Boehly et al., “Line-imaging velocimeter for shock diagnostics at the omega laser facility,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75, 4916–4929 (2004).10.1063/1.1807008
[15]	D. E. Fratanduono, T. R. Boehly, M. A. Barrios, D. D. Meyerhofer, J. H. Eggert et al., “Refractive index of lithium fluoride ramp compressed to 800 GPa,” J. Appl. Phys. 109, 123521 (2011).10.1063/1.3599884
[16]	F. Wang, S. Jiang, Y. Ding, S. Liu, J. Yang et al., “Recent diagnostic developments at the 100 kJ-level laser facility in China,” Matter Radiat. Extremes 5, 035201 (2020).10.1063/1.5129726
[17]	S. Jiang, F. Wang, Y. Ding, S. Liu, J. Yang et al., “Experimental progress of inertial confinement fusion based at the ShenGuang-III laser facility in China,” Nucl. Fusion 59, 032006 (2018).10.1088/1741-4326/aabdb6
[18]	H. F. Robey, J. D. Moody, P. M. Celliers, J. S. Ross, J. Ralph et al., “Measurement of high-pressure shock waves in cryogenic deuterium-tritium ice layered capsule implosions on NIF,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 111(6), 065003 (2013).10.1103/physrevlett.111.065003
[19]	T. J. Vogler, W. M. Trott, W. D. Reinhart, C. S. Alexander, M. D. Furnish et al., “Using the line-visar to study multi-dimensional and mesoscale impact phenomena,” Int. J. Impact Eng. 35, 1844–1852 (2008).10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2008.07.040
[20]	H. Shu, S. Z. Fu, X. G. Huang, Z. H. Fang, T. Wang et al., “Laser-driven shock propagation into quartz targets driven by various drive pulse configurations: Experiments,” Eur. Phys. J. D 66, 268 (2012).10.1140/epjd/e2012-30407-7
[21]	P. Celliers, D. Fratanduono, J. Peterson, N. Meezan, A. Mackinnon et al., “Shock wave equation of state experiments at multi-TPa pressures on NIF,” Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 60(19), BAPS.2015.DPP.CO4.13 (2015).
[22]	F. Wang, X. Peng, Z. Rui, X. Tao, H. Wei et al., “Imaging velocity interferometer system for any reflector based on Shenguang-III prototype laser facility,” High Power Laser Part. Beams 25(12), 3158 (2013).10.3788/HPLPB20132512.3158
[23]	F. Wang, Z. Guan, Y. Li, X. Peng, T. Xu et al., “Optical diagnostic systems based on Shenguang III,” Sci. Sin.: Phys. Mech. Astron. 48(6), 065205 (2018).10.1360/SSPMA2018-00017
[24]	F. Wang, X. Peng, S. Liu, T. Xu, L. Mei et al., “A line-imaging velocity interferometer technique for shock diagnostics without x-ray preheat limitation,” Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82(10), 103108 (2011).10.1063/1.3653800
[25]	D. D. Bloomquist and S. A. Sheffield, “Optically recording interferometer for velocity measurements with subnanosecond resolution,” J. Appl. Phys. 54, 1717–1722 (1983).10.1063/1.332222
[26]	F. Wang, P. Xiaoshi, L. Shenye, L. Yong-sheng, J. Xiao-hua et al., “Direct measurement technique for shock wave velocity under super high pressure,” Acta Phys. Sin. 60, 025202 (2011).10.7498/aps.60.025202
[27]	F. Wang, Y.-L. Li, Z.-B. Wang, T. Xu, W.-Y. Zha et al., “Demonstration of a shock-timing experiment in a CH layer at the ShenGuang III laser facility,” Chin. Phys. Lett. 35, 055202 (2018).10.1088/0256-307X/35/5/055202
[28]	Y. Yang, Y. Li, Z. Guan, C. Yang, S. Zhang et al., “A diagnostic system toward high-resolution measurement of wavefront profile,” Opt. Commun. 456, 124554 (2020).10.1016/j.optcom.2019.124554
[29]	T. R. Boehly, D. Munro, P. M. Celliers, R. E. Olson, D. G. Hicks et al., “Demonstration of the shock-timing technique for ignition targets on the national ignition facility,” Phys. Plasmas 16, 056302 (2009).10.1063/1.3078422
[30]	J. D. Moody, H. F. Robey, P. M. Celliers, D. H. Munro, D. A. Barker et al., “Early time implosion symmetry from two-axis shock-timing measurements on indirect drive NIF experiments,” Phys. Plasmas 21, 092702 (2014).10.1063/1.4893136
[31]	F. Wang, T. Ji, T. Xu, Y. long Li, L. fei Jing et al., “Two-axis velocity interferometer technique based on Shenguang-III prototype laser facility,” Acta Photonica Sin. 46(8), 0811001 (2017).10.3788/gzxb20174608.0811001
[32]	W. Yang, X. Duan, Y. Li, Y. Zhang, L. Jing et al., “Experimental investigation of toe laser intensity effects on capsule compression in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion,” Nucl. Fusion 65, 016032 (2024).10.1088/1741-4326/ad948a
[33]	Y. Wu, Q. Wang, F. Wang, Y. Li, and S. Jiang, “Optical properties of wide-angle velocity interferometer system for any reflector,” High Power Laser Part. Beams 31, 032001 (2019).10.11884/HPLPB201931.190045
[34]	Y. J. Wu, F. Wang, Y. L. Li, Q. P. Wang, and S. E. Jiang, “Research on a wide-angle diagnostic method for shock wave velocity at SG-III prototype facility,” Nucl. Fusion 58, 076003 (2018).10.1088/1741-4326/aabeed
[35]	W. Yuji, G. Zanyang, Z. Qing, J. Longfei, R. Kuan et al., “A method for diagnosing the implosion symmetry in inertial confinement fusion with wide-angle VISAR,” Nucl. Fusion 65, 026047 (2025).10.1088/1741-4326/adaa87
[36]	Z. Guan, Y. Li, F. Wang, X. Liu, X. Peng et al., “Study on the length of diagnostic time window of CUP-VISAR,” Meas. Sci. Technol. 32, 125208 (2021).10.1088/1361-6501/ac29d4
[37]	X. Wang, L. Zhang, M. Li, B. Yu, Z. Guo et al., “Research into CUP-VISAR velocity reconstruction based on weighted DRUNet and total variation joint optimization,” Opt Lett. 48(20), 5181–5184 (2023).10.1364/ol.498607
[38]	H. Gan, Y. Huang, F. Wang, H. Li, Y. Li et al., “l1 norm based sparse reconstruction approach to compressed ultrafast photography of velocity interferometer system for any reflector,” Opt Lett. 48(20), 5205–5208 (2023).10.1364/ol.496852
[39]	F. Wang, Y. Li, Z. Guan, X. Zhang, J. Li et al., “Application of compressed sensing technology in laser inertial confinement fusion,” High Power Laser Part. Beams 34, 031021 (2022).10.11884/HPLPB202234.210250
[40]	M. Li, C. Wang, B. Yu, X. Wang, Y. Li et al., “Enhanced fractional-order total variation regularization-based velocity field reconstruction for CUP-VISAR diagnostic system,” Opt. Express 32, 32629–32642 (2024).10.1364/oe.533054
[41]	C. Jin, D. Qi, J. Yao, Y. He, P. Ding et al., “Weighted multi-scale denoising via adaptive multi-channel fusion for compressed ultrafast photography,” Opt. Express 30, 31157–31170 (2022).10.1364/oe.469345