Nuclear reactions triggered by laser-accelerated relativistic electron jets

Liesfeld, B.; Amthor, K.-U.; Ewald, Friederike; Schwoerer, H.; Magill, J.; Galy, Jean; Lander, G. H.; Sauerbrey, R.

doi:10.1007/s00340-004-1637-9

Cited by 29 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Such a measurement, using laser-generated bremsstrahlung, has been shown recently [15,16,17,63] by the measurement of the cross section maximum of the (γ,n)-reaction in the isotope 129 I. Although the values obtained for σ max vary strongly and the errors are still large, these measurements demonstrate that laser-generated energetic bremsstrahlung as well as laser-accelerated particles can be used to measure nuclear reaction parameters quantitatively.…”

Section: Cross-sectional Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Since the distribution has three free parametersthe shape, the temperature T γ , and the amplitude -two or more reactions with different threshold energies should be induced and detected at the same time, such as the pair 181 Ta(γ,n) 180 Ta and 181 Ta(γ,3n) 178 Ta with threshold energies at 7.6 and 22.1 MeV, respectively. In this case the assumption of an exponential energy distribution is sufficient to calculate the temperature and amplitude of the spectrum using (3.13) [61,62,63]. The more reactions are available, and the wider the range of threshold energies, the more accurately the photon spectrum can be reconstructed.…”

Section: Photo-induced Nuclear Reactions As a Diagnostic Tool For Lasmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The upper energy detection limit is given only by the number of induced reactions in the stack and the sensitivity of the gamma-detector, whereas the limit for the detection of low-energy protons is given by the reaction threshold of 4 MeV. Another technique that involves only one single copper foil takes advantage of the different proton-induced reactions in the natural occuring isotopes 65 Cu and 63 Cu, which are listed in Table 3.2 [5]. Some of these reaction cross sections are plotted in Fig.…”

Section: Proton-induced Reactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With a stack of thin copper foils -in the range of tens to hundreds of microns -laser-produced proton spectra have been measured by the activation of the foils through the 63 Cu(p,n) 63 Zn reaction [5,65]. The spectral range which is covered by this technique depends on the thickness of the stack, since the spectrum is calculated from the number of reactions induced in a certain depth, that is, in a certain foil.…”

Section: Proton-induced Reactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two techniques of measuring the maximum cross-sectional value were realized: First, σ max is obtained from (3.9) if the parameters of the bremsstrahlung distribution are known from previous or simultaneous nuclear activation measurements and if some assumptions on the cross section are made [15,63]. As shown in (3.8), the shape of the cross section is Lorentzian-like.…”

Section: Cross-sectional Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Laser-Triggered Nuclear Reactions

Ewald

2006

Lasers and Nuclei

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Nearly 30 ago, laser physicists dreamed of the laser as a particle accelerator [1]. With the acceleration of electrons, protons, and ions up to energies of several tens of MeV by the interaction of an intense laser pulse with matter, this dream has become reality within the last ten years. Today, highly intense laser systems drive microscopic accelerators. Nuclear reactions are induced by the accelerated particles. This article intends to outline the unique properties of laser-based particle and bremsstrahlung sources, and the diversity of new ideas that arise from the combination of lasers and nuclear physics.Triggering nuclear reactions by a laser is done indirectly by accelerating electrons to relativistic velocities during the interaction of a very intense laser pulse with a laser-generated plasma. These electrons give rise to the generation of energetic bremsstrahlung, when they are stopped in a target of high atomic number. They can as well be used to accelerate protons or heavier ions to several tens of MeV. Those bremsstrahlung photons, protons, and ions with energies in the typical range of the nuclear giant dipole resonances of about a few to several tens of MeV may then induce nuclear reactions, such as fission, the emission of photoneutrons, or proton-induced emission of nucleons. To induce one of these reactions, a certain energy threshold -the activation energy of the reaction -must be exceeded.Since the first demonstration experiments, nuclear reactions were used for the spectral characterization of laser-accelerated electrons and protons as well as bremsstrahlung [2,3,4,5]. A whole series of classical known nuclear reactions has been shown to be feasible with lasers, such as photo-induced fission [6,7], proton-and ion-induced reactions [5,8,9], or deuterium fusion [10,11,12,13,14]. Recently the cross section of the (γ,n)-reaction of 129 I was measured in laser-based experiments [15,16,17]. This last step from the pure observation of nuclear reactions to the measurement of nuclear parameters is of importance regarding the small size of

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Section: Cross-sectional Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Photo-induced Nuclear Reactions As a Diagnostic Tool For Lasmentioning

confidence: 98%