Numerical study of neutron beam divergence in a beam-fusion scenario employing laser driven ions

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

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Abstract

The most established route to create a laser-based neutron source is by employing laser accelerated, low atomic-number ions in fusion reactions. In addition to the high reaction cross-sections at moderate energies of the projectile ions, the anisotropy in neutron emission is another important feature of beam-fusion reactions. Using a simple numerical model based on neutron generation in a pitcher–catcher scenario, anisotropy in neutron emission was studied for the deuterium–deuterium fusion reaction. Simulation results are consistent with the narrow-divergence ( ∼ 70 ° full width at half maximum) neutron beam recently served in an experiment employing multi-MeV deuteron beams of narrow divergence (up to 30° FWHM, depending on the ion energy) accelerated by a sub-petawatt laser pulse from thin deuterated plastic foils via the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration mechanism. By varying the input ion beam parameters, simulations show that a further improvement in the neutron beam directionality (i.e. reduction in the beam divergence) can be obtained by increasing the projectile ion beam temperature and cut-off energy, as expected from interactions employing higher power lasers at upcoming facilities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)176-180
Number of pages5
JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume829
Early online date14 May 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Sept 2016

Keywords

  • Laser
  • Neutron
  • Beam fusion

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