High flux, beamed neutron sources employing deuteron-rich ion beams from D 2 O-ice layered targets

A Alejo, A. G. Krygier, H Ahmed, J T Morrison, R J Clarke, J. Fuchs, J. S. Green, J. S. Green, D. Jung, A. Kleinschmidt, Z. Najmudin, H. Nakamura, P. Norreys, M. Notley, M. Oliver, M. Roth, L. Vassura, M Zepf, M Borghesi, R R FreemanS Kar

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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 D_2 O ice at the rear side, irradiated by sub-petawatt laser pulses (∼200 J, ∼750 fs) at peak intensity 2 x 10^20 Wcm^-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 x 10^9 n/sr for neutron energy above 2.5 MeV. The experimental data is in good agreement with the simulations carried out for the d(d,n)He reaction using the deuteron beam produced by the ice-layered target.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)064004
Number of pages7
JournalPlasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Volume59
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 24 Apr 2017

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