Effects of internal target structures on laser-driven neutron production

Zhang, Yihang and Wang, Wei-Min and Li, Yutong and Zhang, Zhe and McKenna, Paul and Neely, David and Zhang, Jie (2019) Effects of internal target structures on laser-driven neutron production. Nuclear Fusion. ISSN 0029-5515 (In Press)

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Abstract

We study neutron production in interactions of an intense laser pulse with solid, near-critical density and foam targets, by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We find that compared with solid and near-critical density targets, the neutron production from foam targets is more efficient because ion acceleration and ionion collisions are significantly enhanced. This is caused due to formation of ambipolar electrostatic fields among the multi-lamellas in the foam. The energy conversion efficiency from the laser pulse to the ions inside the foam target is up to 11%, 12- fold higher than the one achieved with a solid target for the same laser parameters. We also find that a foam target with thinner lamellas and larger pores between the lamellas is more favorable for neutron production due to higher laser energy absorption and longer distance for ion acceleration. The number of the neutrons can reach 107 from a foam target with a thickness of only 20 um driven by a 1020 W=cm2 laser pulse.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:67598
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    16 April 2019
    Published
    16 April 2019
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:17 Apr 2019 10:55
    Last modified:26 Apr 2024 00:34
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/67598
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