Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions

Kar, S and Green, A and Ahmed, H and Alejo, A and Robinson, A P L and Cerchez, M and Clarke, R and Doria, D and Dorkings, S and Fernandez, J and Mirfayzi, S R and Mckenna, P and Naughton, K and Neely, D and Norreys, P and Peth, C and Powell, H and Ruiz, J A and Swain, J and Willi, O and Borghesi, M (2016) Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions. New Journal of Physics, 18. ISSN 1367-2630 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/5/053002)

[thumbnail of Kar-etal-NJP-2016-Beamed-neutron-emission-driven-by-laser-accelerated] Text. Filename: Kar_etal_NJP_2016_Beamed_neutron_emission_driven_by_laser_accelerated.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo

Download (1MB)

Abstract

Highly anisotropic, beam-like neutron emission with peak flux of the order of109 n/sr was obtained from light nuclei reactions in a pitcher-catcher scenario, by employing MeV ions driven by sub-petawatt laser. The spatial prole of the neutron beam, fully captured for the first time by employing a CR39 nuclear track detector, shows a FWHM divergence angle of ∼70°, with a peak flux nearly an order of magnitude higher than the isotropic component elsewhere. The observed beamed flux of neutrons is highly favourable for a wide range of applications, and indeed for further transport and moderation to thermal energies.  A systematic study employing various combinations of pitcher-catcher materials indicates the dominant reactions being d(p,n+p)1H and d(d,n)3He. Albeit in sufficient cross-section data are available for modelling, the observed anisotropy in the neutrons' spatial and spectral profiles are most likely related to the directionality and high energy of the projectile ions.