Energetics of Inertial Confinement Fusion Hohlraum Plasmas

We present the first measurements of radiation temperatures and stimulated scattering losses in laser-driven, gas-filled hohlraums. They show efficient coupling when applying laser beam smoothing techniques. Scattering losses are reduced to the 3{percent} level while the radiation temperatures increased by {approximately}15 eV for smoothed laser beams. We observe peak radiation temperatures in excess of 230eV in gas-filled hohlraums consistent with detailed hydrodynamic LASNEX modeling. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}