Mixing of the ablator material into the fuel of an inertial confinement fusion implosion reduces compression and enhances radiative losses, preventing ignition. We describe a novel use of charged-particle radiochemistry to measure the ablator mix in contact with the fusion hot spot. The capsule uses a graded Be-Cr layer to increase the confinement of the hot spot. ${}^{52}\mathrm{Mn}$ and ${}^{51}\mathrm{Cr}$ isotopes are collected from the implosion and counted, and the ratio is related to the amount of Cr mixed into the hot spot. Thus, a new diagnostic to determine the degradation due to mix on fusion implosions has been developed.

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• Charge-exchange reactions
• High-energy-density plasmas
• Indirect drive