Ultrashort Pulsed Neutron Source

Pomerantz, I.; McCary, E.; Meadows, Alexander R.; Arefiev, Alexey; Bernstein, Aaron; Chester, C.; Cortez, J.; Donovan, M.; Dyer, G.; Gaul, E.; Hamilton, D.; Kuk, Donghoon; Lestrade, A. C.; Wang, C.; Ditmire, T.; Hegelich, B. M.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.113.184801

Cited by 154 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 44 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

122

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Examples of successfully employing this approach include: generation of energetic ions by solid-density foils (Flippo et al 2010), x-ray generation in gas jets (Kneip et al 2008), positron production in high-Z materials (Chen et al 2010), and neutron production from a metal converter (Pomerantz et al 2014). Laser interaction with electrons in the target strongly depends on the density of the target and the laser pulse duration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel aspects of direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We examine the impact of several factors on electron acceleration by a laser pulse and the resulting electron energy gain. Specifically, we consider the role played by: (1) static longitudinal electric field, (2) static transverse electric field, (3) electron injection into the laser pulse, and (4) static longitudinal magnetic field. It is shown that all of these factors lead, under certain conditions, to a considerable electron energy gain from the laser pulse. In contrast with other mechanisms such as wakefield acceleration, the static electric fields in this case do not directly transfer substantial energy to the electron. Instead, they reduce the longitudinal dephasing between the electron and the laser beam, which then allows the electron to gain extra energy from the beam. The mechanisms discussed here are relevant to experiments with under-dense gas jets, as well as to experiments with solid-density targets involving an extended pre-plasma.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel aspects of direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Order of magnitude higher fast neutron fluxes than produced in the current experiment have been already reported [2][3][4], and, in principle, can be further improved upon by taking advantage of ongoing developments in laser-driven ion acceleration [23][24][25]. A credible source of fast neutrons can also be obtained by deploying MeV electron jets from laser-driven exploding foils [5]. High energy electrons efficiently produce neutrons inside a metal converter via photo-nuclear reactions by generating high flux of bremsstrahlung photons.…”

mentioning

confidence: 87%

“…There has been over the last decades a sustained interest in laser-driven neutron sources, which are capable of producing sub-ns bursts of fast (MeV energies) neutrons with high brightness [1][2][3][4][5]. Although fast neutrons are useful for many applications, such as imaging [6] and material testing for fusion reactor vessels [7], the arena of neutron science and applications mainly requires slow neutrons (with energies ranging from sub-meV to keV) which are provided at reactor [8] and accelerator [9] based facilities by moderating fast neutrons.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental demonstration of a compact epithermal neutron source based on a high power laser

Mirfayzi

Alejo

Ahmed

et al. 2017

Applied Physics Letters

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Epithermal neutrons from pulsed-spallation sources have revolutionised neutron science allowing scientists to acquire new insight into the structure and properties of matter. Here, we demonstrate that laser driven fast (∼MeV) neutrons can be efficiently moderated to epithermal energies with intrinsically short burst durations. In a proof-of-principle experiment using a 100 TW laser, a significant epithermal neutron flux of the order of 105 n/sr/pulse in the energy range of 0.5–300 eV was measured, produced by a compact moderator deployed downstream of the laser-driven fast neutron source. The moderator used in the campaign was specifically designed, by the help of MCNPX simulations, for an efficient and directional moderation of the fast neutron spectrum produced by a laser driven source.

show abstract

“…The energy of super-ponderomotive electrons enables high energy transfer from the laser pulse into the generation of x-rays and other secondary particles such as high energy ions [9] and neutrons [10]. The source of these electrons was investigated via 1 and 2D PIC simulations, which showed that an electrostatic potential well develops in the pre-plasma which traps electrons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%