Simultaneous analysis of collinear neutron time-of-flight (nToF) traces applied to pulsed fusion experiment

Abstract

On pulsed fusion experiments, the neutron time of flight (nToF) diagnostic provides critical information on the fusion neutron energy spectrum. This work presents an analysis technique that uses two collinear nToF detectors, potentially to measure nuclear bang time and directional flow velocities. Two collinear detectors may be sufficient to disambiguate the contributions of nuclear bang time and directional flow velocities to the first moment of the neutron energy spectrum, providing an independent measurement of nuclear bang time. Preliminary results from measured nToF traces on the National Ignition Facility and additional applications of this technique are presented.