Berlin 2001 – scientific programme
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K: Kurzzeitphysik
K 2: High power laser plasmas
K 2.3: Talk
Tuesday, April 3, 2001, 17:35–17:50, EB107
Spectroscopy of Fusion Neutrons from Relativistic Laser Plasmas — •Stefan Karsch1,2, Georg Pretzler1,2, Manuel Hegelich1,2, Ulrich Schramm1, Peter Thirolf1, Dieter Habs1, and Klaus Witte2 — 1Universität München — 2Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik
With the MPQ Ti-Sapphire ATLAS facility we produce fusion neutrons in relativistic laser plasmas originating from the surface of deuterated polyethylene targets. In the present experiments, we measured up to 106 neutrons/shot with energies around 2.45 MeV at 10 Hz repetition rate. The neutrons are produced in a volume of the order of a cubic millimeter in pulses of 10-100 ps duration. Two arrays of fast TOF scintillating detectors were used to measure the angular and energy distribution of the fusion neutrons. From these spectra we deduce the primary distribution of fast deuterons in the interaction as well as the total number of neutrons. With our understanding of the underlying acceleration mechanism for deuterons we may be able to optimize this process to build a reliable, inherently safe laser-driven neutron source.