Ultra-short, beamed source of laser-driven epithermal neutrons

S. R. Mirfayzi; T. Mori; D. Rusby; C. Armstrong; H. Ahmed; M. Borghesi; C.M. Brenner; R.J. Clarke; Z.E. Davidson; D. Doria; C. P. Jones; P. McKenna; D. Neely; T. B. Scott; A. Yogo; S. Kar

Ultra-short, beamed source of laser-driven epithermal neutrons

S. R. Mirfayzi, T. Mori, D. Rusby, C. Armstrong, H. Ahmed, M. Borghesi, C.M. Brenner, R.J. Clarke, Z.E. Davidson, D. Doria, C. P. Jones, P. McKenna, D. Neely, T. B. Scott, A. Yogo, S. Kar

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Development of intense neutron sources driven by laser will enable a range of scientific investigations and new opportunities for industrial and medical applications. In particular, an ultra-short, point-like source of epithermal neutrons using laser-driven ultra-short ion pulses would open new opportunities for many unprecedented time-resolved spectroscopic and imaging applications. This paper reports the first measurement of the ultra-short bursts of epithermal (sub-MeV) neutron beams using intense lasers, produced predominately by the endothermic 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction at the near energy threshold. Using a 6LiF scintillator in time-of-flight arrangement, epithermal neutrons of ∼ 107 n/sr/pulse in the range of 20-200 keV were measured, which intrinsically offers a beamed feature and ultra-short duration. The mechanism of epithermal neutron production and the crosscalibration of the diagnostic employed for extending the spectral measurements down to epithermal range are discussed.

Original language	English
Number of pages	5
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 3 May 2019

Keywords

epithermal neutrons
laser-driven ultra-short ion pulses
intense lasers

Access to Document

Mirfayzi-etal-APL-2019-Ultra-short-beamed-source-of-laser-driven-epithermal-neutronsAccepted author manuscript, 2.74 MB

https://aip.scitation.org/journal/apl

1 Finished
1 Active

Nonlinear Optics and Dynamics in Relativistically Transparent Plasmas
McKenna, P., Gray, R. & King, M.
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/08/17 → 31/07/21
Project: Research
Advanced laser-ion acceleration strategies towards next generation healthcare
McKenna, P.
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
21/05/13 → 20/05/19
Project: Research

Cite this

@article{fd1decb1a0b448cd83416c332cf074ef,

title = "Ultra-short, beamed source of laser-driven epithermal neutrons",

abstract = "Development of intense neutron sources driven by laser will enable a range of scientific investigations and new opportunities for industrial and medical applications. In particular, an ultra-short, point-like source of epithermal neutrons using laser-driven ultra-short ion pulses would open new opportunities for many unprecedented time-resolved spectroscopic and imaging applications. This paper reports the first measurement of the ultra-short bursts of epithermal (sub-MeV) neutron beams using intense lasers, produced predominately by the endothermic 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction at the near energy threshold. Using a 6LiF scintillator in time-of-flight arrangement, epithermal neutrons of ∼ 107 n/sr/pulse in the range of 20-200 keV were measured, which intrinsically offers a beamed feature and ultra-short duration. The mechanism of epithermal neutron production and the crosscalibration of the diagnostic employed for extending the spectral measurements down to epithermal range are discussed.",

keywords = "epithermal neutrons, laser-driven ultra-short ion pulses, intense lasers",

author = "Mirfayzi, {S. R.} and T. Mori and D. Rusby and C. Armstrong and H. Ahmed and M. Borghesi and C.M. Brenner and R.J. Clarke and Z.E. Davidson and D. Doria and Jones, {C. P.} and P. McKenna and D. Neely and Scott, {T. B.} and A. Yogo and S. Kar",

year = "2019",

month = may,

day = "3",

language = "English",

journal = "Applied Physics Letters",

issn = "0003-6951",

}

Ultra-short, beamed source of laser-driven epithermal neutrons. / Mirfayzi, S. R.; Mori, T.; Rusby, D.; Armstrong, C.; Ahmed, H.; Borghesi, M.; Brenner, C.M.; Clarke, R.J.; Davidson, Z.E.; Doria, D.; Jones, C. P.; McKenna, P.; Neely, D.; Scott, T. B.; Yogo, A.; Kar, S.

In: Applied Physics Letters, 03.05.2019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ultra-short, beamed source of laser-driven epithermal neutrons

AU - Mirfayzi, S. R.

AU - Mori, T.

AU - Rusby, D.

AU - Armstrong, C.

AU - Ahmed, H.

AU - Borghesi, M.

AU - Brenner, C.M.

AU - Clarke, R.J.

AU - Davidson, Z.E.

AU - Doria, D.

AU - Jones, C. P.

AU - McKenna, P.

AU - Neely, D.

AU - Scott, T. B.

AU - Yogo, A.

AU - Kar, S.

PY - 2019/5/3

Y1 - 2019/5/3

N2 - Development of intense neutron sources driven by laser will enable a range of scientific investigations and new opportunities for industrial and medical applications. In particular, an ultra-short, point-like source of epithermal neutrons using laser-driven ultra-short ion pulses would open new opportunities for many unprecedented time-resolved spectroscopic and imaging applications. This paper reports the first measurement of the ultra-short bursts of epithermal (sub-MeV) neutron beams using intense lasers, produced predominately by the endothermic 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction at the near energy threshold. Using a 6LiF scintillator in time-of-flight arrangement, epithermal neutrons of ∼ 107 n/sr/pulse in the range of 20-200 keV were measured, which intrinsically offers a beamed feature and ultra-short duration. The mechanism of epithermal neutron production and the crosscalibration of the diagnostic employed for extending the spectral measurements down to epithermal range are discussed.

AB - Development of intense neutron sources driven by laser will enable a range of scientific investigations and new opportunities for industrial and medical applications. In particular, an ultra-short, point-like source of epithermal neutrons using laser-driven ultra-short ion pulses would open new opportunities for many unprecedented time-resolved spectroscopic and imaging applications. This paper reports the first measurement of the ultra-short bursts of epithermal (sub-MeV) neutron beams using intense lasers, produced predominately by the endothermic 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction at the near energy threshold. Using a 6LiF scintillator in time-of-flight arrangement, epithermal neutrons of ∼ 107 n/sr/pulse in the range of 20-200 keV were measured, which intrinsically offers a beamed feature and ultra-short duration. The mechanism of epithermal neutron production and the crosscalibration of the diagnostic employed for extending the spectral measurements down to epithermal range are discussed.

KW - epithermal neutrons

KW - laser-driven ultra-short ion pulses

KW - intense lasers

UR - https://aip.scitation.org/journal/apl

M3 - Article

JO - Applied Physics Letters

JF - Applied Physics Letters

SN - 0003-6951

ER -

Ultra-short, beamed source of laser-driven epithermal neutrons

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Nonlinear Optics and Dynamics in Relativistically Transparent Plasmas

Advanced laser-ion acceleration strategies towards next generation healthcare

Cite this