We present detailed characterization of laser-driven fusion and neutron production(-10^(5)/second) using 8 mJ, 40 fs laser pulses on a thin(<1 μm) D_2O liquid sheet employing a measurement suite. At relativistic i...We present detailed characterization of laser-driven fusion and neutron production(-10^(5)/second) using 8 mJ, 40 fs laser pulses on a thin(<1 μm) D_2O liquid sheet employing a measurement suite. At relativistic intensity(~ 5 × 10^(18)W/cm^(2))and high repetition rate(1 kHz), the system produces deuterium±deuterium(D-D) fusion, allowing for consistent neutron generation. Evidence of D-D fusion neutron production is verified by a measurement suite with three independent detection systems: an EJ-309 organic scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination, a ~3He proportional counter and a set of 36 bubble detectors. Time-of-flight analysis of the scintillator data shows the energy of the produced neutrons to be consistent with 2.45 MeV. Particle-in-cell simulations using the WarpX code support significant neutron production from D-D fusion events in the laser±target interaction region. This high-repetition-rate laser-driven neutron source could provide a low-cost, on-demand test bed for radiation hardening and imaging applications.展开更多
High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications.Unfortunately,the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applicati...High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications.Unfortunately,the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applications are not satisfied by the lasers,optics,targets,and diagnostics currently employed.Here,we aim to address the need for high-repetition-rate targets and optics through the use of liquids.A novel nozzle assembly is used to generate highvelocity,laminar-flowing liquid microjets which are compatible with a low-vacuum environment,generate little to no debris,and exhibit precise positional and dimensional tolerances.Jets,droplets,submicron-thick sheets,and other exotic configurations are characterized with pump–probe shadowgraphy to evaluate their use as targets.To demonstrate a highrepetition-rate,consumable,liquid optical element,we present a plasma mirror created by a submicron-thick liquid sheet.This plasma mirror provides etalon-like anti-reflection properties in the low field of 0.1%and high reflectivity as a plasma,69%,at a repetition rate of 1 k Hz.Practical considerations of fluid compatibility,in-vacuum operation,and estimates of maximum repetition rate are addressed.The targets and optics presented here demonstrate a potential technique for enabling the operation of laser–plasma interactions at high repetition rates.展开更多
基金supported by Air Force Office of Scientific Research(AFOSR)Award number 23AFCOR004(PM:Dr.Andrew B.Stickrath)partially supported by DTRANSREC Award number HDTRA-1343332。
文摘We present detailed characterization of laser-driven fusion and neutron production(-10^(5)/second) using 8 mJ, 40 fs laser pulses on a thin(<1 μm) D_2O liquid sheet employing a measurement suite. At relativistic intensity(~ 5 × 10^(18)W/cm^(2))and high repetition rate(1 kHz), the system produces deuterium±deuterium(D-D) fusion, allowing for consistent neutron generation. Evidence of D-D fusion neutron production is verified by a measurement suite with three independent detection systems: an EJ-309 organic scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination, a ~3He proportional counter and a set of 36 bubble detectors. Time-of-flight analysis of the scintillator data shows the energy of the produced neutrons to be consistent with 2.45 MeV. Particle-in-cell simulations using the WarpX code support significant neutron production from D-D fusion events in the laser±target interaction region. This high-repetition-rate laser-driven neutron source could provide a low-cost, on-demand test bed for radiation hardening and imaging applications.
基金supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under LRIR Project 17RQCOR504 under the management of Dr. Riq Parraprovided by the AFOSR summer faculty program
文摘High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications.Unfortunately,the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applications are not satisfied by the lasers,optics,targets,and diagnostics currently employed.Here,we aim to address the need for high-repetition-rate targets and optics through the use of liquids.A novel nozzle assembly is used to generate highvelocity,laminar-flowing liquid microjets which are compatible with a low-vacuum environment,generate little to no debris,and exhibit precise positional and dimensional tolerances.Jets,droplets,submicron-thick sheets,and other exotic configurations are characterized with pump–probe shadowgraphy to evaluate their use as targets.To demonstrate a highrepetition-rate,consumable,liquid optical element,we present a plasma mirror created by a submicron-thick liquid sheet.This plasma mirror provides etalon-like anti-reflection properties in the low field of 0.1%and high reflectivity as a plasma,69%,at a repetition rate of 1 k Hz.Practical considerations of fluid compatibility,in-vacuum operation,and estimates of maximum repetition rate are addressed.The targets and optics presented here demonstrate a potential technique for enabling the operation of laser–plasma interactions at high repetition rates.
