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How tiny voids could make fusion targets more stable under powerful shockwaves

Phys · · 618 words · By Ashley Piccone

Researchers utilized AI and 3D printing to create a novel target structure featuring voids, which they demonstrated can effectively mitigate the Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) instability. The study showed that these voids reshape shockwaves, potentially improving material interfaces for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets and other industrial applications. The work establishes a method for building and testing AI-optimized structures in real-world experiments.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-voids-fusion-stable-powerful.html

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confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

17 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 7
check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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“If that wave hits a bump in the material interface, it slows down. If it hits a dent, it accelerates forward.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results report the exact mechanism: a shockwave slowing down when hitting a bump and accelerating when hitting a dent at a material interface. This is reported across different search snippets.
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web search NEUTRAL — Picture two materials sandwiched together. The boundary between them may appear flat, but, in reality, it is full of tiny bumps and dents. Suddenly, the materials are hit with a shockwave. If that wav…
https://www.llnl.gov/article/54271/looking-void-cancel-out-m…
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web search NEUTRAL — Suddenly, the materials are hit with a shockwave. If that wave hits a bump in the material interface, it slows down. If it hits a dent, it accelerates forward. This imbalance creates fast, narrow jets…
https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science…
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web search NEUTRAL — Suddenly, the materials are hit with a shockwave. If that wave hits a bump in the material interface, it slows down. If it hits a dent, it accelerates forward. This imbalance creates fast, narrow jets…
https://www.miragenews.com/looking-into-void-to-cancel-out-m…
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“This imbalance creates fast, narrow jets of material—called the Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) instability.”
CORROBORATED
The web search results confirm that the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) is a phenomenon occurring at the interface of two different density substances due to an impulsive acceleration, such as a shock wave. The claim accurately describes the resulting jets of material.
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web search NEUTRAL — The reflection of the shock wave at the axis and its second interaction with the material interface as the shock moves outbound, commonly known as re-shock, results in a second Richtmyer-Meshkov insta…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002250961…
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web search NEUTRAL — We report the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) is a phenomenon that occurs at the interface of two substances of different densities due to an impulsive acceleration, such as a shock wave passing t…
https://www.osti.gov/pages/biblio/1902020
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web search NEUTRAL — The Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) is a phenomenon that occurs at the interface of two substances of different densities due to an impulsive acceleration, such as a shock wave passing through thi…
https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pof/article/34/8/082109/2846942/Des…
info
“In a recent paper, published in Physical Review Letters, researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Imperial College London and their collaborators used AI to optimize and 3D printing to create a target that effectively negates the RM instability.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the web search results mention LLNL and Imperial College London in the context of research, none of the provided evidence snippets confirm the specific details: that they published a paper in *Physical Review Letters* detailing the use of AI optimization and 3D printing to negate RM instability. The evidence is too general to corroborate this specific claim.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Edward Teller Award (or the Edward Teller Medal) is an award presented every two years by the American Nuclear Society for "pioneering research and leadership in the use of laser and ion-particle …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Teller_Award
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Fusion power is a potential method of electric power generation from heat released by nuclear fusion reactions. In fusion, two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus and release energy.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lucy Florence Oldfield (18 September 1925 – 4 July 1989) was a British chemist and Chairman of the London Section of the Society of Glass Technology. She was awarded a Glass Slipper for her work in gl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Oldfield
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Our target reshapes the shockwave, in both space and time, as it travels through the material.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results directly quote or paraphrase the statement: 'Our target reshapes the shockwave, in both space and time, as it travels through the material,' attributed to Jergus Strucka, confirming the core concept.
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web search NEUTRAL — When a shock wave passes through matter, energy is preserved but entropy increases. This change in the matter's properties manifests itself as a decrease in the energy which can be extracted as work, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_wave
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web search NEUTRAL — "Our target reshapes the shockwave, in both space and time, as it travels through the material," said first author Jergus Strucka, now at the European XFEL.
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-voids-fusion-stable-power…
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web search NEUTRAL — "Our target reshapes the shockwave, in both space and time, as it travels through the material," said first author Jergus Strucka, now at the European XFEL. "Instead of a single shock hitting the surf…
https://www.llnl.gov/article/54271/looking-void-cancel-out-m…
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“Instead of a single shock hitting the surface, we introduce voids to break it up into a sequence of smaller pressure pulses that arrive at slightly different times.”
CORROBORATED
Two web search results contain the exact phrasing: 'Instead of a single shock hitting the surface, we introduce voids to break it up into a sequence of smaller pressure pulses that arrive at slightly different times,' confirming the mechanism.
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web search NEUTRAL — Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is measured in millimeters of mercury. It represents the force that the heart generates each time it contracts. Healt…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_pressure
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web search NEUTRAL — “Instead of a single shock hitting the surface, we introduce voids to break it up into a sequence of smaller pressure pulses that arrive at slightly different times.” How the target was built and test…
https://www.voxelmatters.com/3d-printed-gelatin-targets-supp…
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web search NEUTRAL — Narrow pulse pressure versus Wide pulse pressureBen Reynolds7.3K views • 1 year agoLivePlaylist ()Mix (50+). 13:59.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhu2CwjRWxc
info
“The process suggested that a void—a specifically shaped cavity in the material—could reshape the shock as it passes through, effectively weakening and redistributing the wave.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results provide general definitions for 'void' but do not contain the specific scientific claim that 'A void, or specifically shaped cavity, can reshape a shockwave as it passes through, thereby weakening and redistributing it.' This specific mechanism is implied by the context of other claims but is not directly stated or corroborated by the provided evidence snippets.
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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of VOID is of no legal force or effect : null. How to use void in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Void.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/void
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · What Does Void Mean in Slang? A Quick, Honest Answer What does void mean in slang is a question people ask when they see someone say they were “voided” on TikTok or read about the “voidco…
https://www.slangsphere.com/what-does-void-mean-in-slang-5-e…
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web search NEUTRAL — 1. invalid, null and void, inoperative, useless, ineffective, worthless, ineffectual, unenforceable, nonviable The elections were declared void by the former military ruler.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/void
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“To assemble such a target, the scientists used a polymer 3D printer to make an inverted version of their target structure.”
CORROBORATED
Two web search results state that scientists used a polymer 3D printer to create the target structure, confirming the use of the technology.
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web search NEUTRAL — To assemble such a target, the scientists used a polymer 3D printer to make an inverted version of their target structure. Much like making Jell-O in a mold, they fill the printed structure with gelat…
https://www.llnl.gov/article/54271/looking-void-cancel-out-m…
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web search NEUTRAL — New robot inspired by origami and built from printable polymers only uses electric current to move. The researchers used origami to design the robot's structure.
https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-origami-robot-built-prin…
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web search NEUTRAL — Save Big on new & used 3D Printers from top brands like Creality 3D, Makerbot, Prusa & more.
https://www.ebay.com/b/3D-Printers/183063/bn_55162971
info
“Much like making Jell-O in a mold, they fill the printed structure with gelatin, let it set, then remove it.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result describes the process of using PVA sacrificial molds (a type of printing/dissolving process) to create gelatin scaffolds, which aligns with the 'filling printed structure' concept. However, no other source corroborates the specific analogy of 'filling the printed structure with gelatin, allowing it to set, and then removing the mold' in this context.
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web search NEUTRAL — Gelatin scaffolds were 3D printed using PVA sacrificial molds with a porous structure that were then dissolved in water. Designing scaffolds with appropriate pore size and properties allowing cell adh…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240588662…
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web search NEUTRAL — Components of hard gelatin capsules Hard gelatin capsule shell is composed largely of gelatin. Other than gelatin, it may contain materials such as plasticizer, colourants, opacifying agents, and pres…
https://www.pharmapproach.com/hard-gelatin-capsules-formulat…
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web search NEUTRAL — We aimed to develop an inexpensive and easy-to-fabricate gelatin-based training phantom for improving the breast biopsy skill and confidence level of residents. Young's modulus and acoustic properties…
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/16/7728
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“The gelatin structure is deposited onto a thin copper strip.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the deposition of a gelatin structure onto a thin copper strip.
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“They send a large electrical pulse—equivalent to several lightning strikes—through the copper, which heats, explodes and launches a shockwave into the gelatin.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding sending a large electrical pulse equivalent to several lightning strikes through the copper strip.
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“First, the wave encounters the voids. Then it moves toward the wavy end of the gelatin, where the RM instability would normally grow. But by the time it gets there, the wave has been redistributed.”
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“To some degree, we are creating another instability using the designed voids that acts against the RM instability and reduces jetting.”
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“By modifying the original pressure pulse as it passes through these voids, we are also creating a sort of secondary pressure wave that can actually act against the unstable jetting.”
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“The same physics of voids should apply in a sphere, making these results potentially useful for improving fill tubes or material interfaces in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets.”
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“During a fusion ignition experiment, unstable jetting can reduce the symmetry of the imploding capsule and therefore the amount of energy produced.”
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“For ICF experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), it can be difficult and costly to probe isolated effects like the RM instability.”
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“These findings also extend beyond ICF to a broad swath of materials research where shockwaves are relevant, including oil and gas extraction and defense applications.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.