Showing papers by "David Neely published in 2017"

Experimental demonstration of a compact epithermal neutron source based on a high power laser

Abstract: Epithermal neutrons from pulsed-spallation sources have revolutionised neutron science allowing scientists to acquire new insight into the structure and properties of matter. Here, we demonstrate that laser driven fast (∼MeV) neutrons can be efficiently moderated to epithermal energies with intrinsically short burst durations. In a proof-of-principle experiment using a 100 TW laser, a significant epithermal neutron flux of the order of 105 n/sr/pulse in the energy range of 0.5–300 eV was measured, produced by a compact moderator deployed downstream of the laser-driven fast neutron source. The moderator used in the campaign was specifically designed, by the help of MCNPX simulations, for an efficient and directional moderation of the fast neutron spectrum produced by a laser driven source.

Burst intensification by singularity emitting radiation in multi-stream flows

Abstract: Burst Intensification by Singularity Emitting Radiation (BISER) is proposed. Singularities in multi-stream flows of emitting media cause constructive interference of emitted travelling waves, forming extremely localized sources of bright coherent emission. Here we for the first time demonstrate this extreme localization of BISER by direct observation of nano-scale coherent x-ray sources in a laser plasma. The energy emitted into the spectral range from 60 to 100 eV is up to ~100 nJ, corresponding to ~1010 photons. Simulations reveal that these sources emit trains of attosecond x-ray pulses. Our findings establish a new class of bright laboratory sources of electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, being applicable to travelling waves of any nature (e.g. electromagnetic, gravitational or acoustic), BISER provides a novel framework for creating new emitters and for interpreting observations in many fields of science.

Diagnosis of Weibel instability evolution in the rear surface scale lengths of laser solid interactions via proton acceleration

Abstract: It is shown for the first time that the spatial and temporal distribution of laser accelerated protons can be used as a diagnostic of Weibel instability presence and evolution in the rear surface scale lengths of a solid density target. Numerical modelling shows that when a fast electron beam is injected into a decreasing density gradient on the target rear side, a magnetic instability is seeded with an evolution which is strongly dependent on the density scale length. This is manifested in the formation of a filamented proton beam, where the degree of filamentation is also found to be dependent on the target rear scale length. Furthermore, the energy dependent spatial distribution of the accelerated proton beam is shown to provide information on the instability evolution on the picosecond timescale over which the protons are accelerated. Experimentally, this is investigated by using a controlled prepulse to introduce a target rear scale length, which is varied by altering the time delay with respect to the main pulse, and similar trends are measured. This work is particularly pertinent to applications using laser pulse durations of tens of picoseconds, or where a micron level density scale length is present on the rear of a solid target, such as proton driven fast ignition, as the resultant instability may affect the uniformity of fuel energy coupling.

Creation and characterization of free-standing cryogenic targets for laser-driven ion acceleration.

Abstract: A technique for the creation of free-standing cryogenic targets for laser-driven ion acceleration is presented, which allows us to create solid state targets consisting of initially gaseous materials. In particular, the use of deuterium and the methods for its preparation as a target material for laser-driven ion acceleration are discussed. Moving in the phase diagram through the liquid phase leads to the substance covering an aperture on a cooled copper frame where it is solidified through further cooling. An account of characterization techniques for target thickness is given, with a focus on deducing thickness values from distance values delivered by chromatic confocal sensors.

Scaling of X-ray flux from high-intensity laser-solid interactions as a function of energy

Abstract: The bremsstrahlung x-rays from a laser-solid interaction have been investigated for the use of radiography. The scaling of the x-rays as a function of energy has been characterized and modelled and agrees with previous measurements.