Ignition scale, high drive, hohlraums with ICF ignition capsules have precision requirements for the drive symmetry and for the drive pulse-shape / shock timing that are quite stringent, if ignition is to be achieved. The capsules themselves must also be fabricated with great care. These challenges are all now subject to experimental study, facilitated by the capability of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to deliver, with great precision, the very large laser energy (1.8 MJ) and power (500 TW) needed for ignition. We review here the results of the past few years of experiments and modeling, in which high convergence implosions of frozen shells of DT ice embedded in shells of CH ablator material, have resulted in a cold DT main fuel density in excess of 500 gm/cc, surrounding a lower density DT hot spot with ion temperatures of about 3.5 keV. Lessons learned along the way will be discussed, and plans for future progress in experiments, diagnostics and modeling will be presented. The work is the result of massive efforts by hundreds of scientists who comprise the NIC team, led by Dr. Edward Moses of LLNL.

*Work performed for the U.S. DoE by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. LLNL-ABS-490359

This abstract is for submission to Israel Physical Society / Plasma Session at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Dec. 9, 2012. Reference / release to a general audience / number: LLNL-ABS-584812