Demonstration of fusion-evaporation and direct-interaction nuclear reactions using high-intensity laser-plasma-accelerated ion beams

P. McKenna, K.W.D. Ledingham, T. McCanny, R.P. Singhal, I. Spencer, M.I.K. Santala, F.N. Beg, K. Krushelnick, M. Tatarakis, M.S. Wei, E.L. Clark, R.J. Clarke, K.L. Lancaster, P.A. Norreys, K. Spohr, R. Chapman, M. Zepf

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Heavy-ion induced nuclear reactions in materials exposed to energetic ions produced from high-intensity (∼5×1019 W/cm2) laser-solid interactions have been experimentally investigated for the first time. Many of the radionuclides produced result from the creation of "compound nuclei" with the subsequent evaporation of proton, neutron, and alpha particles. Results are compared with previous measurements with monochromatic ion beams from a conventional accelerator. Measured nuclide yields are used to diagnose the acceleration of ions from laser-ablated plasma to energies greater than 100 MeV.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)075006-1
Number of pages75005
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume91
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2003

Keywords

  • nuclear reactions
  • lasers
  • plasmas
  • ion beams

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Demonstration of fusion-evaporation and direct-interaction nuclear reactions using high-intensity laser-plasma-accelerated ion beams'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this