Energetic neutron beams generated from femtosecond laser plasma interactions
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099 (United States)
- Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)
Experiments at the HERCULES laser facility have produced directional neutron beams with energies up to 16.8({+-}0.3) MeV using {sub 1}{sup 2}d(d,n){sub 2}{sup 3}He,{sub 7}{sup 3}Li(p,n){sub 4}{sup 7}Be,and{sub 3}{sup 7}Li(d,n){sub 4}{sup 8}Be reactions. Efficient {sub 1}{sup 2}Li(d,n){sub 4}{sup 8}Be reactions required the selective acceleration of deuterons through the introduction of a deuterated plastic or cryogenically frozen D{sub 2}O layer on the surface of a thin film target. The measured neutron yield was {<=}1.0 ({+-}0.5) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 7} neutrons/sr with a flux 6.2({+-}3.7) times higher in the forward direction than at 90{sup Degree-Sign }. This demonstrates that femtosecond lasers are capable of providing a time averaged neutron flux equivalent to commercial {sub 1}{sup 2}d(d,n){sub 2}{sup 3}He generators with the advantage of a directional beam with picosecond bunch duration.
- OSTI ID:
- 22162814
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 102, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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