Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions

S. Kar; A. Green; H. Ahmed; A. Alejo; A. P. L. Robinson; M. Cerchez; R. Clarke; D. Doria; S. Dorkings; J. Fernandez; S. R. Mirfayzi; P. McKenna; K. Naughton; D. Neely; P. Norreys; C. Peth; H. Powell; J. A. Ruiz; J. Swain; O. Willi; M. Borghesi

doi:10.1088/1367-2630/18/5/053002

Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions

S. Kar, A. Green, H. Ahmed, A. Alejo, A. P. L. Robinson, M. Cerchez, R. Clarke, D. Doria, S. Dorkings, J. Fernandez, S. R. Mirfayzi, P. McKenna, K. Naughton, D. Neely, P. Norreys, C. Peth, H. Powell, J. A. Ruiz, J. Swain, O. WilliM. Borghesi

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Abstract

Highly anisotropic, beam-like neutron emission with peak flux of the order of 10^9 n/sr was obtained from light nuclei reactions in a pitcher–catcher scenario, by employing MeV ions driven by subpetawatt laser. The spatial profile of the neutron beam, fully captured for the first time by employing a CR39 nuclear track detector, shows a FWHMdivergence angle of ~70 deg, 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)1Hand d(d,n)3He. Albeit insufficient 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.

Original language	English
Article number	053002
Number of pages	7
Journal	New Journal of Physics
Volume	18
Early online date	29 Apr 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/5/053002
Publication status	Published - May 2016

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10.1088/1367-2630/18/5/053002

Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions
© 2016 The Authors, published by IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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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., Naughton, K., Neely, D., Norreys, P., Peth, C., Powell, H., Ruiz, J. A., Swain, J., ... Borghesi, M. (2016). Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions. New Journal of Physics, 18, [053002]. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/5/053002

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title = "Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions",

abstract = "Highly anisotropic, beam-like neutron emission with peak flux of the order of 10^9 n/sr was obtained from light nuclei reactions in a pitcher–catcher scenario, by employing MeV ions driven by subpetawatt laser. The spatial profile of the neutron beam, fully captured for the first time by employing a CR39 nuclear track detector, shows a FWHMdivergence angle of ~70 deg, 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)1Hand d(d,n)3He. Albeit insufficient cross-section data are available for modelling, the observed anisotropy in the neutrons{\textquoteright} spatial and spectral profiles are most likely related to the directionality and high energy of the projectile ions.",

author = "S. Kar and A. Green and H. Ahmed and A. Alejo and Robinson, {A. P. L.} and M. Cerchez and R. Clarke and D. Doria and S. Dorkings and J. Fernandez and Mirfayzi, {S. R.} and P. McKenna and K. Naughton and D. Neely and P. Norreys and C. Peth and H. Powell and Ruiz, {J. A.} and J. Swain and O. Willi and M. Borghesi",

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doi = "10.1088/1367-2630/18/5/053002",

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Kar, S, Green, A, Ahmed, H, Alejo, A, Robinson, APL, Cerchez, M, Clarke, R, Doria, D, Dorkings, S, Fernandez, J, Mirfayzi, SR, McKenna, P, Naughton, K, Neely, D, Norreys, P, Peth, C, Powell, H, Ruiz, JA, Swain, J, Willi, O & Borghesi, M 2016, 'Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions', New Journal of Physics, vol. 18, 053002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/5/053002

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T1 - Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions

AU - Kar, S.

AU - Green, A.

AU - Ahmed, H.

AU - Alejo, A.

AU - Robinson, A. P. L.

AU - Cerchez, M.

AU - Clarke, R.

AU - Doria, D.

AU - Dorkings, S.

AU - Fernandez, J.

AU - Mirfayzi, S. R.

AU - McKenna, P.

AU - Naughton, K.

AU - Neely, D.

AU - Norreys, P.

AU - Peth, C.

AU - Powell, H.

AU - Ruiz, J. A.

AU - Swain, J.

AU - Willi, O.

AU - Borghesi, M.

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N2 - Highly anisotropic, beam-like neutron emission with peak flux of the order of 10^9 n/sr was obtained from light nuclei reactions in a pitcher–catcher scenario, by employing MeV ions driven by subpetawatt laser. The spatial profile of the neutron beam, fully captured for the first time by employing a CR39 nuclear track detector, shows a FWHMdivergence angle of ~70 deg, 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)1Hand d(d,n)3He. Albeit insufficient 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.

AB - Highly anisotropic, beam-like neutron emission with peak flux of the order of 10^9 n/sr was obtained from light nuclei reactions in a pitcher–catcher scenario, by employing MeV ions driven by subpetawatt laser. The spatial profile of the neutron beam, fully captured for the first time by employing a CR39 nuclear track detector, shows a FWHMdivergence angle of ~70 deg, 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)1Hand d(d,n)3He. Albeit insufficient 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.

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JO - New Journal of Physics

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SN - 1367-2630

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Beamed neutron emission driven by laser accelerated light ions

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