Status of the National Ignition Facility Integrated Computer Control System (ICCS) on the path to ignition

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a stadium-sized facility under construction that will contain a 192-beam, 1.8-MJ, 500-TW, ultraviolet laser system together with a 10-m diameter target chamber with room for multiple experimental diagnostics. NIF i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Fusion engineering and design Vol. 83; no. 2; pp. 530 - 534
Main Authors:	Lagin, L.J., Bettenhausen, R.C., Bowers, G.A., Carey, R.W., Edwards, O.D., Estes, C.M., Demaret, R.D., Ferguson, S.W., Fisher, J.M., Ho, J.C., Ludwigsen, A.P., Mathisen, D.G., Marshall, C.D., Matone, J.T., McGuigan, D.L., Sanchez, R.J., Stout, E.A., Tekle, E.A., Townsend, S.L., Van Arsdall, P.J., Wilson, E.F.
Format:	Journal Article Conference Proceeding
Language:	English
Published:	Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-04-2008 New York, NY Elsevier Science
Subjects:	Applied sciences Automation Controled nuclear fusion plants CORBA Energy Energy. Thermal use of fuels Exact sciences and technology Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy Integrated Computer Control National Ignition Facility Software frameworks CORBA National Ignition Facility Automation Integrated Computer Control Software frameworks Data analysis Control system Pressure Nuclear fusion reactor Laser beam Laser Object oriented Software Computer system Inertial confinement fusion
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Summary:	The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a stadium-sized facility under construction that will contain a 192-beam, 1.8-MJ, 500-TW, ultraviolet laser system together with a 10-m diameter target chamber with room for multiple experimental diagnostics. NIF is the world's largest and most energetic laser experimental system, providing a scientific center to study inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and matter at extreme energy densities and pressures. NIF's laser beams are designed to compress fusion targets to conditions required for thermonuclear burn, liberating more energy than required to initiate the fusion reactions. NIF is comprised of 24 independent bundles of eight beams each using laser hardware that is modularized into more than 6000 line replaceable units such as optical assemblies, laser amplifiers, and multi-function sensor packages containing 60,000 control and diagnostic points. NIF is operated by the large-scale Integrated Computer Control System (ICCS) in an architecture partitioned by bundle and distributed among over 800 front-end processors and 50 supervisory servers. NIF's automated control subsystems are built from a common object-oriented software framework based on CORBA distribution that deploys the software across the computer network and achieves interoperation between different languages and target architectures. A shot automation framework has been deployed during the past year to orchestrate and automate shots performed at the NIF using the ICCS. In December 2006, a full cluster of 48 beams of NIF was fired simultaneously, demonstrating that the independent bundle control system will scale to full scale of 192 beams. At present, 72 beams have been commissioned and have demonstrated 1.4-MJ capability of infrared light. During the next 2 years, the control system will be expanded in preparation for project completion in 2009 to include automation of target area systems including final optics, target positioners and diagnostics. Additional capabilities to support fusion ignition shots in a National Ignition Campaign (NIC) beginning in 2010 will include a cryogenic target system, target diagnostics, and integrated experimental shot data analysis with tools for data visualization and archiving. This talk discusses the current status of the control system implementation and discusses the plan to complete the control system on the path to ignition.
Bibliography:	SourceType-Scholarly Journals-2 ObjectType-Feature-2 ObjectType-Conference Paper-1 content type line 23 SourceType-Conference Papers & Proceedings-1 ObjectType-Article-3
ISSN:	0920-3796 1873-7196
DOI:	10.1016/j.fusengdes.2007.09.014