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Global Characterization of a Laser-Generated Neutron Source

Authors :
Higginson, D. P.
Lelièvre, R.
Vassura, L.
Gugiu, M. M.
Borghesi, M.
Bernstein, L. A.
Bleuel, D. L.
Goldblum, B. L.
Green, A.
Hannachi, F.
Kar, S.
Kisyov, S.
Quentin, L.
Schroer, M.
Tarisien, M.
Willi, O.
Antici, P.
Negoita, F.
Allaoua, A.
Fuchs, J.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Laser-driven neutron sources are routinely produced by the interaction of laser-accelerated protons with a converter. They present complementary characteristics to those of conventional accelerator-based neutron sources (e.g. short pulse durations, enabling novel applications like radiography). We present here results from an experiment aimed at performing a global characterization of the neutrons produced using the Titan laser at the Jupiter Laser Facility (Livermore, USA), where protons were accelerated from 23 $\mu m$ thick plastic targets and directed onto a LiF converter to produce neutrons. For this purpose, several diagnostics were used to measure these neutron emissions, such as CR-39, activation foils, Time-of-Flight detectors and direct measurement of $^{7}$Be residual activity in the LiF converters. The use of these different, independently operating diagnostics enables comparison of the various measurements performed to provide a robust characterization. These measurements led to a neutron yield of $2.10^{9}$ neutrons per shot with a modest angular dependence, close to that simulated.

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2312.14110
Document Type :
Working Paper