Fast Pb-glass neutron-to-light converter for ICF (inertial confinement fusion) target burn history measurements

Conference · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6411558

Lerche, R A; Cable, M D; Phillion, D W

We are developing a streak camera based instrument to diagnose the fusion reaction rate (burn history) within laser-driven ICF targets filled with D-T fuel. Recently, we attempted measurements using the 16.7-MeV gamma ray emitted in the T(d,{gamma}){sup 5}He fusion reaction. Pb glass which has a large cross section for pair production acts as a gamma-ray-to-light converter. Gamma rays interact within the glass to form electron-positron pairs that produce large amounts (1000 photons/gamma ray) of prompt (<10 ps) Cerenkov light as they slow down. In our experimental instrument, an f/10 Cassegrain telescope optically couples light produced within the converter to a streak camera having 20-ps resolution. Experiments using high-yield (10{sup 13} D-T neutrons), direct-drive targets at Nova produced good signals with widths of 200 ps. Time-of-flight measurements show the signals to be induced by neutrons rather than gamma rays. The Pb glass appears to act as a fast neutron-to-light converter. We continue to study the interactions process and the possibility of using the 16.7-MeV gamma rays for burn time measurements.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6411558
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-103281; CONF-900557-26; ON: DE91002670
• Resource Relation: Conference: 8. topical conference on high-temperature plasma diagnostics, Hyannis, MA (USA), 6-10 May 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
LASER TARGETS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
TRITIUM TARGET
DEUTERON REACTIONS
ELECTRON PAIRS
GAMMA RADIATION
GLASS
ICF DEVICES
LEAD
STREAK CAMERAS
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD
CAMERAS
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology
700102 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Diagnostics