Neutron-driven gamma-ray laser

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867448

Bowman, Charles D ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

A lasing cylinder emits laser radiation at a gamma-ray wavelength of 0.87 .ANG. when subjected to an intense neutron flux of about 400 eV neutrons. A 250 .ANG. thick layer of Be is provided between two layers of 100 .ANG. thick layer of .sup.57 Co and these layers are supported on a foil substrate. The coated foil is coiled to form the lasing cylinder. Under the neutron flux .sup.57 Co becomes .sup.58 Co by neutron absorption. The .sup.58 Co then decays to .sup.57 Fe by 1.6 MeV proton emission. .sup.57 Fe then transitions by mesne decay to a population inversion for lasing action at 14.4 keV. Recoil from the proton emission separates the .sup.57 Fe from the .sup.57 Co and into the Be, where Mossbauer emission occurs at a gamma-ray wavelength.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4939742
• OSTI ID: 867448
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

neutron-driven
gamma-ray
laser
lasing
cylinder
emits
radiation
wavelength
87
ang
subjected
intense
neutron
flux
400
neutrons
250
thick
layer
provided
layers
100
57
supported
foil
substrate
coated
coiled
form
58
absorption
decays
mev
proton
emission
transitions
mesne
decay
population
inversion
action
14
kev
recoil
separates
mossbauer
occurs
lasing action
thick layer
neutron flux
laser radiation
population inversion
neutron absorption
ray wavelength
mev proton
intense neutron
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