Towards High-Repetition-Rate Fast Neutron Sources Using Novel Enabling Technologies

Abstract

High-flux, high-repetition-rate neutron sources are of interest in studying neutron-induced damage processes in materials relevant to fusion, ultimately guiding designs for future fusion reactors. Existing and upcoming petawatt laser systems show great potential to fulfill this need. Here, we present a platform for producing laser-driven neutron beams based on a high-repetition-rate cryogenic liquid jet target and an adaptable stacked lithium and beryllium converter. Selected ion and neutron diagnostics enable monitoring of the key parameters of both beams. A first single-shot proof-of-principle experiment successfully implemented the presented platform at the Texas Petawatt Laser facility, achieving efficient generation of a forward-directed neutron beam. This work lays the foundation for future high-repetition-rate experiments towards pulsed, high-flux, fast neutron sources for radiation-induced effect studies relevant for fusion science and applications that require neutron beams with short pulse duration.

Fusion neutrons from femtosecond relativistic laser-irradiated sub-micron aggregates in a rapid expanding jet of supercritical CO2 + CD3OD mixture

“…Secondly, it is characterized by the simplicity of controlling parameters of the supercritical mixture, accessibility in use, high purity and, consequently, higher efficiency and fewer loss channels, and thirdly, the compatibility of the method with a high laser repetition rate are also important. This approach meets the prospect for conducting high-repetition-rate experiments towards pulsed, high-flux, fast neutron sources [4].…”

Correction: Treffert et al. Towards High-Repetition-Rate Fast Neutron Sources Using Novel Enabling Technologies. Instruments 2021, 5, 38

“…There was an error in the original publication [1]. In the description for Figure 9a, the energy for the RCF layer shown in Figure 9a was erroneously stated to be 6.4 MeV.…”

Time-resolved optical shadowgraphy of solid hydrogen jets as a testbed to benchmark particle-in-cell simulations

“…igh-impact applications of high-intensity laser-solid interactions such as fast ignition in inertial-confinement fusion [1][2][3] , laser-driven ion acceleration 4,5 , the investigation of warm dense matter [6][7][8][9][10] or secondary-source development [11][12][13][14][15][16] have developed into independent research fields over the last years. Gaining insight to the microscopic interaction picture is the domain of numerical modeling through simulations.…”