Photonuclear Fission from High Energy Electrons from Ultraintense Laser-Solid Interactions

Cowan, T. E.; Hunt, A. W.; Phillips, T. W.; Wilks, S. C.; Perry, M. D.; Brown, C.; Fountain, W. F.; Hatchett, S.; Johnson, J.; Key, M. H.; Parnell, T. A.; Pennington, D. M.; Snavely, R.; Takahashi, Y.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.84.903

Cited by 232 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Photofission incorporates the use of ultra-intense lasers on the order of approximately 10 20 W/cm 2 [12]- [14]. The phenomenon involves the generation of high energy electrons, bremsstrahlung photons, and nuclear interactions [13]. Previous architectures for positron-antimatter propulsion, which is a subset of non-chemical nuclear propulsion, advocating the role of ultra-intense lasers of roughly 10 20 W/cm 2 have been presented by LeMoyne and Mastroianni [1]- [4].…”

Section: Photofission Derived Propulsion a New Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…During 2000, two institutions with ultra-intense lasers systems achieved the objective of laser induced photofission [12]- [14]. The accomplishment was achieved using the NOVA laser of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory with a yield of 7 × 10 4 fissions of uranium-238 per joule of laser energy [13] [14]. The VULCAN laser of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory produced a yield of 2 × 10 4 fissions of uranium-238 per joule of laser energy [12] [14].…”

Section: Background Of Photofissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fundamental Architecture and Performance Analysis of Photofission Pulsed Space Propulsion System Using Ultra-Intense Laser

LeMoyne¹,

Mastroianni²

2015

JAMP

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Photofission enables a unique capability for the domain of non-chemical space propulsion. An ultra-intense laser enables the capacity to induce nuclear fission through the development of bremsstrahlung photons. A fundamental architecture and performance analysis of a photofission pulsed space propulsion system through the operation of an ultra-intense laser is presented. A historical perspective of previous conceptual nuclear fission propulsion systems is addressed. These applications use neutron derived nuclear fission; however, there is inherent complexity that has precluded further development. The background of photofission is detailed. The conceptual architecture of photofission pulsed space propulsion and fundamental performance parameters are established. The implications are the energy source and ultra-intense laser can be situated far remote from the propulsion system. Advances in supporting laser technologies are anticipated to increase the potential for photofission pulsed space propulsion. The fundamental performance analysis of the photofission pulsed space propulsion system indicates the architecture is feasible for further evaluation.

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Section: Photofission Derived Propulsion a New Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Background Of Photofissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fundamental Architecture and Performance Analysis of Photofission Pulsed Space Propulsion System Using Ultra-Intense Laser

LeMoyne¹,

Mastroianni²

2015

JAMP

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“…The NOVA laser of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and VULCAN laser of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have demonstrated the feasibility of photofission using uranium-238 [10]- [12]. Tabletop laser systems achieving the ultra-intense laser have been established for producing photofission of a uranium-238 target [12].…”

Section: Photofissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These multiple sources affecting the research and development of laser devices likely promotes considerable promise for the correlated evolution of ultra-intense laser systems. Ultra-intense lasers on the scale of 10 20 W/cm 2 have generated sufficient bremsstrahlung photons to achieve photofission through institutions, such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's NOVA laser and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's VULCAN laser [10]- [12].…”

Section: Ultra-intense Lasermentioning

confidence: 99%

Project New Orion: Pulsed Nuclear Space Propulsion Using Photofission Activated by Ultra-Intense Laser

LeMoyne¹,

Mastroianni²

2016

JAMP

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Project New Orion entails a pulsed nuclear space propulsion system that utilizes photofission through the implementation of an ultra-intense laser. The historical origins derive from the endeavors of Project Orion, which utilized thermonuclear devices to impart a considerable velocity increment on the respective spacecraft. The shear magnitude of Project Orion significantly detracts from the likelihood of progressive research development testing and evaluation. Project New Orion incorporates a more feasible pathway for the progressive research development testing and evaluation of the pulsed nuclear space propulsion system. Photofission through the application of an ultra-intense laser enables a much more controllable and scalable nuclear yield. The energy source for the ultra-intense laser is derived from a first stage liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen chemical propulsion system. A portion of the thermal/kinetic energy of the rocket propulsive fluid is converted to electrical energy through a magneto-hydrodynamic generator with cryogenic propellant densification for facilitating the integral superconducting magnets. Fundamental analysis of Project New Orion demonstrates the capacity to impart a meaningful velocity increment through ultra-intense laser derived photofission on a small spacecraft.

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“…The acceleration of electrons in the interaction of a high-intensity laser beam with plasma may have important applications in various domains such as laser particle acceleration, ion acceleration for fusion action, and the generation of intense and short-duration cray sources for radiography [4][5][6]. Furthermore, the interaction of an ultra short high-intensity laser pulse with plasma without external dc magnetic field has been studied extensively [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of external magnetic field on the density distributions and electromagnetic fields in the interaction of high-intensity short laser pulse with collisionless underdense plasma

2015

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Laser absorption in the interaction between ultra-intense femtosecond laser and solid density plasma is studied theoretically here in the intensity range Ik 2 ' 10 14 À10 16 W cm À2 lm 2 . The collisionless effect is found to be significant when the incident laser intensity is less than 10 16 W cm À2 lm 2 . In the current work, the propagation of a high-frequency electromagnetic wave, for underdense collisionless plasma in the presence of an external magnetic field is investigated. When a constant magnetic field parallel to the laser pulse propagation direction is applied, the electrons rotate along the magnetic field lines and generate the electromagnetic part in the wake with a nonzero group velocity. Here, by considering the ponderomotive force in attendance of the external magnetic field and assuming the isothermal collisionless plasma, the nonlinear permittivity of the plasma medium is obtained and the equation of electromagnetic wave propagation in plasma is solved. Here, by considering the effect of the ponderomotive force in isothermal collisionless magnetized plasma, it is shown that by increasing the laser pulse intensity, the electrons density profile leads to steepening and the electron bunches of plasma become narrower. Moreover, it is found that the wavelength of electric and magnetic field oscillations increases by increasing the external magnetic field and the density distribution of electrons also grows in comparison to the unmagnetized collisionless plasma.

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Photonuclear Fission from High Energy Electrons from Ultraintense Laser-Solid Interactions

Cited by 232 publications

References 20 publications

Fundamental Architecture and Performance Analysis of Photofission Pulsed Space Propulsion System Using Ultra-Intense Laser

Fundamental Architecture and Performance Analysis of Photofission Pulsed Space Propulsion System Using Ultra-Intense Laser

Project New Orion: Pulsed Nuclear Space Propulsion Using Photofission Activated by Ultra-Intense Laser

The effect of external magnetic field on the density distributions and electromagnetic fields in the interaction of high-intensity short laser pulse with collisionless underdense plasma

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