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)

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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.

ORCID iDs

Kar, S, Green, A, Ahmed, H, Alejo, A, Robinson, A P L, Cerchez, M, Clarke, R, Doria, D, Dorkings, S, Fernandez, J, Mirfayzi, S R, Mckenna, P ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8061-7091, Naughton, K, Neely, D, Norreys, P, Peth, C, Powell, H, Ruiz, J A, Swain, J, Willi, O and Borghesi, M;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:55641
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    29 April 2016
    Published
    15 February 2016
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:22 Feb 2016 15:39
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 17:47
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/55641
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