High flux, beamed neutron sources employing deuteron-rich ion beams from D2O-ice layered targets. (24th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alejo, A; Krygier, A G; Ahmed, H; Morrison, J T; Clarke, R J; Fuchs, J; Green, A; Green, J S; Jung, D; Kleinschmidt, A; Najmudin, Z; Nakamura, H; Norreys, P; Notley, M; Oliver, M; Roth, M; Vassura, L; Zepf, M; Borghesi, M; Freeman, R R; Kar, S
• Is Part Of: Plasma physics and controlled fusion. Volume 59:Number 6(2017:Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2017-04-24
• Subjects: laser -- ion -- neutron; Plasma (Ionized gases) -- Periodicals; Controlled fusion -- Periodicals; 530.44
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/aa684a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-3335

Abstract

Abstract: A forwardly-peaked bright neutron source was produced using a laser-driven, deuteron-rich ion beam in a pitcher-catcher scenario. A proton-free ion source was produced via target normal sheath acceleration from Au foils having a thin layer of D2 O ice at the rear side, irradiated by sub-petawatt laser pulses (∼200 J, ∼750 fs) at peak intensity ∼ 2 × 10 20 W cm − 2 . The neutrons were preferentially produced in a beam of ∼70° FWHM cone along the ion beam forward direction, with maximum energy up to ∼40 MeV and a peak flux along the axis ∼ 2 × 10 9 n sr − 1 for neutron energy above 2.5 MeV. The experimental data is in good agreement with the simulations carried out for the d(d, n) 3 He reaction using the deuteron beam produced by the ice-layered target.