Ultraintense Lasers as a Promising Research Tool for Fusion Material Testing: Production of Ions, X-Rays and Neutrons

Abstract

Laser fusion environments are characterized by prompt bursts of high energy neutrons, ions and X-rays which are absorbed by different components of the fusion reaction chamber. In particular, plasma facing components are subjected to extreme conditions and prior to their use in the reactors they must be validated under stringent irradiation tests. However, the particular characteristics of the fusion products, i.e. very short pulses, very high fluences and broad particle energy spectra are difficult to reproduce in test laboratories, making those validations hard to be carried out. In the present work, the ability of ultraintense lasers to create the appropriate characteristics of laser fusion bursts is addressed. A description of a possible experimental set-up to generate the appropriate ion pulses with lasers is presented. At the same time, the possibility of generating X-ray or neutron beams which reproduce those of laser fusion environments is also pointed out and assessed under current laser intensities. It is concluded that ultraintense lasers should play a relevant role in the validation of materials for laser fusion facilities and immediate action for this systematic study is called for.

Laser-accelerated particle beams for stress testing of materials

“…Alvarez et al 30 demonstrated that the experimental energy distribution of the proton beam generated from laser acceleration is very similar to the proton burst produced in an ICF experiment using a shock ignition target of 48 MJ, in particular for the energy range of 2–6 MeV. We therefore ensured that our proton spectrum was containing these proton energies.…”