APS Logo

Creation and diagnostics of high-flux gamma-rays > 8 MeV and photo-neutrons using a petawatt laser to irradiate high-Z solid targets

ORAL

Abstract

We report the creation of super-high-fluxes of gamma-rays with energy >8 MeV and photo-neutrons via the (gamma,n) reaction near giant dipole resonance energies (8 - 20 MeV), using the ~130 J Texas Petawatt laser to irradiate high-Z (Au, Pt, Re, W) targets of mm - cm thickness, at laser intensities up to 5x1021W/cm2. We detected up to ~ several x 1012 gamma-rays > 8 MeV (~3% of incident laser energy) and ~ 1010 photo-neutrons per shot. Due to the short pulse and narrow gamma-ray cone (~17o half-width) around laser forward, the peak emergent gamma-ray flux >8 MeV reached ~1027 gammas/cm2/sec, and the peak emergent neutron flux reached ~1020 neutrons/cm2/sec. Such intense gamma-ray and photo-neutron fluxes will facilitate the study of nuclear reactions and applications requiring super-high-flux of gamma-rays or neutrons,

–

Publication: arXiv 2302.06766

Presenters

  • Edison P Liang

    Rice University

Authors

  • Edison P Liang

    Rice University

  • Brandon Cage

    Rice University, rice university

  • willie lo

    university of texas at austin

  • sanya arora

    Rice University, rice university

  • elliot fang

    Rice University, rice university and university of maryland

  • kevin q zheng

    yale university

  • hernan Quvedo

    university of texas at austin

  • sandra a bruce

    University of Texas, the Unviersity of Texas at Austin, university of texas at austin

  • michael spinks

    University of Texas, the University of Texas at Austin, university of texas at austin

  • eli medina

    the University of Texas at Austin, university of texas at austin

  • ahmed helal

    university of texas at austin, University of Texas

  • Todd Ditmire

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Stephen B Libby

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Scott C Wilks

    Northwind Services, LLNL