A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers

S. R. Mirfayzi; H. Ahmed; D. Doria; A. Alejo; S. Ansell; R. J. Clarke; B. Gonzalez-Izquierdo; P. Hadjisolomou; R. Heathcote; T. Hodge; P. Martin; D. Raspino; E. Schooneveld; P. McKenna; N. J. Rhodes; D. Neely; M. Borghesi; S. Kar

doi:10.1063/5.0003170

A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers

S. R. Mirfayzi, H. Ahmed, D. Doria, A. Alejo, S. Ansell, R. J. Clarke, B. Gonzalez-Izquierdo, P. Hadjisolomou, R. Heathcote, T. Hodge, P. Martin, D. Raspino, E. Schooneveld, P. McKenna, N. J. Rhodes, D. Neely, M. Borghesi, S. Kar

School of Mathematics and Physics

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Abstract

The continuous improvement of high power laser technologies is recasting the prospects of small-scale neutron sources to enable scientific communities and industries performing experiments that are currently offered at extensive accelerator-driven facilities. This paper reports moderation of laser-driven fast neutrons to thermal energies using a compact, modular, moderator assembly. A significant thermal (~25 meV) flux of 10^6 n/sr/pulse was measured from water and plastic moderators in a proof-of-principle experiment employing a relatively
moderate power laser delivering 200 J on the target in 10 ps. Using Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended simulations, the experimental results are reproduced and discussed.

Original language	English
Article number	174102
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	116
Issue number	17
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0003170
Publication status	Published - 01 May 2020

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doi: 10.1063/5.0003170

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A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers
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R1696CPP: Nanorad - Ultrafast, Nano-Scale Material Response to Radiation and Applications of Ultrafast Radiation Sources
Dromey, B., Borghesi, M., Currell, F., Kar, S., Kohanoff, J., Reville, B., Riley, D., Sarri, G. & Yeung, M.
08/02/2017 → …
Project: Research
R1639CPP: Laser-driven multi-modal probe beams for nuclear waste inspection
Kar, S.
13/10/2016 → 31/08/2019
Project: Research
R1682CPP: STFC - Central Lazer Facility - Funding Support for Dr S Kar
Kar, S.
06/10/2016 → 31/12/2018
Project: Research

A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers
Mirfayzi, S. R. (Contributor), Ahmed, H. (Contributor), Doria, D. (Contributor), Alejo, A. (Contributor), Ansell, S. (Contributor), Clarke, R. J. (Contributor), Gonzalez-Izquierdo, B. (Contributor), Hadjisolomou, P. (Contributor), Heathcote, R. (Contributor), Hodge, T. (Contributor), Martin, P. (Contributor), Raspino, D. (Contributor), Schooneveld, E. (Contributor), McKenna, P. (Contributor), Rhodes, N. J. (Contributor), Neely, D. (Contributor), Borghesi, M. (Contributor) & Kar, S. (Creator), American Institute of Physics, 2020
DOI: 10.17034/2ec0505f-021c-4d54-81c7-33bff45441ad
Dataset

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Radiographic applications and control of TNSA proton beams
Author: Hodge, T., Dec 2020
Supervisor: Borghesi, M. (Supervisor) & Hill, M. (External person) (Supervisor)
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy

File
Schemes of ion acceleration employing high energy, petawatt laser pulses
Author: Martin, P., Jul 2020
Supervisor: Borghesi, M. (Supervisor) & Kar, S. (Supervisor)
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy

File

Cite this

Mirfayzi, S. R., Ahmed, H., Doria, D., Alejo, A., Ansell, S., Clarke, R. J., Gonzalez-Izquierdo, B., Hadjisolomou, P., Heathcote, R., Hodge, T., Martin, P., Raspino, D., Schooneveld, E., McKenna, P., Rhodes, N. J., Neely, D., Borghesi, M., & Kar, S. (2020). A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers. Applied Physics Letters, 116(17), [174102]. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0003170

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title = "A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers",

abstract = "The continuous improvement of high power laser technologies is recasting the prospects of small-scale neutron sources to enable scientific communities and industries performing experiments that are currently offered at extensive accelerator-driven facilities. This paper reports moderation of laser-driven fast neutrons to thermal energies using a compact, modular, moderator assembly. A significant thermal (~25 meV) flux of 10^6 n/sr/pulse was measured from water and plastic moderators in a proof-of-principle experiment employing a relativelymoderate power laser delivering 200 J on the target in 10 ps. Using Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended simulations, the experimental results are reproduced and discussed.",

author = "Mirfayzi, {S. R.} and H. Ahmed and D. Doria and A. Alejo and S. Ansell and Clarke, {R. J.} and B. Gonzalez-Izquierdo and P. Hadjisolomou and R. Heathcote and T. Hodge and P. Martin and D. Raspino and E. Schooneveld and P. McKenna and Rhodes, {N. J.} and D. Neely and M. Borghesi and S. Kar",

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Mirfayzi, SR, Ahmed, H, Doria, D, Alejo, A, Ansell, S, Clarke, RJ, Gonzalez-Izquierdo, B, Hadjisolomou, P, Heathcote, R, Hodge, T, Martin, P, Raspino, D, Schooneveld, E, McKenna, P, Rhodes, NJ, Neely, D, Borghesi, M & Kar, S 2020, 'A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers', Applied Physics Letters, vol. 116, no. 17, 174102. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0003170

TY - JOUR

T1 - A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers

AU - Mirfayzi, S. R.

AU - Ahmed, H.

AU - Doria, D.

AU - Alejo, A.

AU - Ansell, S.

AU - Clarke, R. J.

AU - Gonzalez-Izquierdo, B.

AU - Hadjisolomou, P.

AU - Heathcote, R.

AU - Hodge, T.

AU - Martin, P.

AU - Raspino, D.

AU - Schooneveld, E.

AU - McKenna, P.

AU - Rhodes, N. J.

AU - Neely, D.

AU - Borghesi, M.

AU - Kar, S.

N1 - doi: 10.1063/5.0003170

PY - 2020/5/1

Y1 - 2020/5/1

N2 - The continuous improvement of high power laser technologies is recasting the prospects of small-scale neutron sources to enable scientific communities and industries performing experiments that are currently offered at extensive accelerator-driven facilities. This paper reports moderation of laser-driven fast neutrons to thermal energies using a compact, modular, moderator assembly. A significant thermal (~25 meV) flux of 10^6 n/sr/pulse was measured from water and plastic moderators in a proof-of-principle experiment employing a relativelymoderate power laser delivering 200 J on the target in 10 ps. Using Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended simulations, the experimental results are reproduced and discussed.

AB - The continuous improvement of high power laser technologies is recasting the prospects of small-scale neutron sources to enable scientific communities and industries performing experiments that are currently offered at extensive accelerator-driven facilities. This paper reports moderation of laser-driven fast neutrons to thermal energies using a compact, modular, moderator assembly. A significant thermal (~25 meV) flux of 10^6 n/sr/pulse was measured from water and plastic moderators in a proof-of-principle experiment employing a relativelymoderate power laser delivering 200 J on the target in 10 ps. Using Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended simulations, the experimental results are reproduced and discussed.

U2 - 10.1063/5.0003170

DO - 10.1063/5.0003170

M3 - Article

VL - 116

JO - Applied Physics Letters

JF - Applied Physics Letters

SN - 0003-6951

IS - 17

M1 - 174102

ER -

A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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Projects

R1696CPP: Nanorad - Ultrafast, Nano-Scale Material Response to Radiation and Applications of Ultrafast Radiation Sources

R1639CPP: Laser-driven multi-modal probe beams for nuclear waste inspection

R1682CPP: STFC - Central Lazer Facility - Funding Support for Dr S Kar

Datasets

A miniature thermal neutron source using high power lasers

Student theses

Radiographic applications and control of TNSA proton beams

Schemes of ion acceleration employing high energy, petawatt laser pulses

Cite this