Generation of high-energy (>15 MeV) neutrons using short pulse high intensity lasers

Journal Article · Sat Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4751460· OSTI ID:22086159

Petrov, G M; Davis, J; Petrova, Tz B ^[1]; Higginson, D P ^[2]; McNaney, J M ^[3]; McGuffey, C; Qiao, B; Beg, F N ^[2]

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1. Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)
2. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)
3. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94440 (United States)

A roadmap is suggested and demonstrated experimentally for the production of high-energy (>15 MeV) neutrons using short pulse lasers. Investigation with a 3D Monte Carlo model has been employed to quantify the production of energetic neutrons. Numerical simulations have been performed for three nuclear reactions, d(d,n){sup 3}He, {sup 7}Li(d,n){sup 8}Be, and {sup 7}Li(p,n){sup 7}Be, driven by monoenergetic ion beams. Quantitative estimates for the driver ion beam energy and number have been made and the neutron spectra and yield in the ion propagation direction have been evaluated for various incident ion energies. In order to generate neutron fluence above a detection limit of 10{sup 6} neutrons/sr, either {approx}10{sup 10} protons with energy 20-30 MeV or comparable amount of deuterons with energy 5-10 MeV are required. Experimental verification of the concept with deuterons driven by the Titan laser (peak intensity 2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 19} W/cm{sup 2}, pulse duration of 9 ps, wavelength 1.05 {mu}m, and energy of 360 J) is provided with the generation of neutrons with energy of up to 18 MeV from {sup 7}Li(d,n){sup 8}Be reactions. Future research will focus on optimized schemes for ion acceleration for production of high-energy neutrons, which will involve efficient target design, laser parameter optimization, and converter material.

• OSTI ID: 22086159
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 19; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BERYLLIUM 7
BERYLLIUM 8
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEUTERON REACTIONS
DEUTERONS
FAST NEUTRONS
HELIUM 3
ION BEAMS
LASERS
LITHIUM 7 TARGET
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON FLUENCE
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRON SPECTRA
PROTON REACTIONS
PROTON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WAVELENGTHS
YIELDS