When Peer Review Fails NIF Debacle

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the criticisms of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) as outlined in the report by C.E. Paine, M. McKinzie, and T.B. Cochran, which claims significant cost overruns from $400 million to $4 billion and a beam energy derating to 0.6MJ, while asserting that 20MJ is necessary for ignition. Participants argue that the criticisms are unfounded, citing NIF's achievements, including the capability to produce 2MJ with 192 beams, and emphasize that management issues, rather than technical failures, are responsible for cost overruns. The discussion also highlights the primary mission of NIF as part of the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons program, countering claims that it is primarily for energy production.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) principles
  • Familiarity with the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and its objectives
  • Knowledge of laser technology, specifically Nd-Glass laser systems
  • Awareness of project management principles in large-scale scientific endeavors
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the technical specifications and operational achievements of the National Ignition Facility (NIF)
  • Explore the implications of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) on nuclear weapons research
  • Investigate the management practices and organizational structures of large scientific projects
  • Study the advancements in first wall materials for fusion reactors, particularly the HYLIFE-II concept
USEFUL FOR

Researchers, physicists, and policymakers involved in nuclear energy and weapons programs, as well as those interested in the management of large-scale scientific projects and advancements in laser technology.

  • #31
Update: NIF dedication ceremonies were this weekend, it was quite the party with a wide array of government dignitaries in attendance. It's huge, it's real, and it works.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1697260/super_laser_as_hot_as_a_star_unveiled/index.html?source=r_technology
 
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  • #32
JeffKoch said:
Update: NIF dedication ceremonies were this weekend, it was quite the party with a wide array of government dignitaries in attendance. It's huge, it's real, and it works.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1697260/super_laser_as_hot_as_a_star_unveiled/index.html?source=r_technology
Well congratulations to all concerned on some substantial optical engineering. But 'it works'? The National Ignition Facility, works?

...NIF director Edward Moses said that a fusion reactions triggered by the super laser hitting hydrogen atoms will produce more energy than was required to prompt "ignition."
Not he hopes it will, or it might, it simply 'will'? What's published on this? I thought the Centurion Halite experiments indicated 20MJ were needed for ignition? Here we have something https://newsline.llnl.gov/_rev02/articles/2009/mar/03.13.09-nif.php" delivered to the target (still amazing), but is it known that this is enough for ignition?
 
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  • #33


mheslep said:
I thought the Centurion Halite experiments indicated 20MJ were needed for ignition? Here we have something https://newsline.llnl.gov/_rev02/articles/2009/mar/03.13.09-nif.php" delivered to the target (still amazing), but is it known that this is enough for ignition?

We don't know. This is cutting-edge physics research, we try to extrapolate from what we think we know based on past experiments (Nova, Omega, Centurion/Halite (all results are classified so take open literature commentary with many grains of salt)), but there's a non-zero chance that we've made a mistake. If we find that we've made a mistake, we'll work out how to fix it. Nothing is certain in this business, the same is true in any large experimental facility - we build bigger facilities in order to learn more, and that learning curve isn't always predictable in advance.
 
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