Spherical implosion experiments have been performed using shaped laser pulses at ${\lambda }_0$=0.53 μm to illuminate deuterium-filled polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) spherical shells. The deuterium fuel was cryogenically cooled to form a uniform frozen fuel layer. Plasma diagnostics included time-resolved x-ray radiography and multiframe holographic interferometry. These and other measurements in conjunction with hydrodynamic simulations establish the importance of shaped laser pulses in achieving high fuel compressions.

• Received 12 July 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.41.1058