Pulsed neutron source from interaction of relativistic laser pulse with micro-structure assisted pitcher–catcher target

Abstract

Neutron detection technology is a powerful method for characterizing fundamental and industrial materials such as magnetic materials, nanomaterials, polymers, and biological substances. Compact pulsed neutron source is desired since the traditional way of producing high-yield neutrons depends mainly on large-scale accelerator or fission reactor. Here, we propose a scheme to generate high-yield pulsed neutron source by using >100 fs relativistic laser pulse interacting with micro-structure assisted pitcher-catcher target. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo hybrid simulations demonstrate that energetic deuterium ion beam with a cutoff energy of 75 MeV and 7.23% laser-to-deuterium energy conversion efficiency can be obtained with a laser pulse of intensity 1.37e20 W/cm2, duration 330 fs, power 34 TW and energy 6.7 J. When they strike the following lithium fluoride converter of thickness 2 cm, a large number of neutrons are thus produced via 7Li(d,n) nuclear reaction. The neutron yield is up to 10e9 and its pulse duration is as short as 20 ps. This scheme could be realized in laboratories with current hundreds-of-terawatt or multi-petawatt laser facilities

Influence of the Experimental Setup on Electromagnetic Pulses in the VHF Band at Relativistic High-Power Laser Facilities

“…In this work, a LiF crystal was used as a catcher in accordance with experiments that aim at a conversion of laser-accelerated ions to neutrons [47][48][49]. This scheme for EMP tailoring was not limited to the use of LiF as a catcher material, but it also has validity in other pitcher-catcher schemes [50].…”

Ultrashort pulsed neutron source driven by two counter-propagating laser pulses interacting with ultra-thin foil

“…子对产生中子的信息 [16,34] . 通过核反应产生中子是 一个随机过程, 网格内不同氘离子之间发生核反应 产生中子的概率不尽相同, 因此程序中采用随机抽 样来计算中子产率, 然后进行统计平均获得中子产 额等信息, 这也是当前蒙特卡罗程序在模拟中子产 生过程时普遍采用的思想.…”

Ion acceleration from a multispecies nanostructured target using a high-intensity laser: a simulation study

“…[8,9]. Microstructured targets like microtubes [10,11], microwires, [12,13] and nanostructured targets like foams [14,15], nanowires [16][17][18], nanospheres [19] and nanobrushes [20] have been used to control the density profile in the near-critical regime. The use of a suitable pulse is essential to prevent damage to the nanostructure and at the same time increase the energy absorption by electrons and hence attain energetic ions [21,22].…”