479 research outputs found
On Retardation Effects in Space Charge Calculations Of High Current Electron Beams
Laser-plasma accelerators are expected to deliver electron bunches with high
space charge fields. Several recent publications have addressed the impact of
space charge effects on such bunches after the extraction into vacuum.
Artifacts due to the approximation of retardation effects are addressed, which
are typically either neglected or approximated. We discuss a much more
appropriate calculation for the case of laser wakefield acceleration with
negligible retardation artifacts due to the calculation performed in the mean
rest frame. This presented calculation approach also aims at a validation of
other simulation approaches
Introducing the Fission-Fusion Reaction Process: Using a Laser-Accelerated Th Beam to produce Neutron-Rich Nuclei towards the N=126 Waiting Point of the r Process
We propose to produce neutron-rich nuclei in the range of the astrophysical
r-process around the waiting point N=126 by fissioning a dense
laser-accelerated thorium ion bunch in a thorium target (covered by a CH2
layer), where the light fission fragments of the beam fuse with the light
fission fragments of the target. Via the 'hole-boring' mode of laser Radiation
Pressure Acceleration using a high-intensity, short pulse laser, very
efficiently bunches of 232Th with solid-state density can be generated from a
Th layer, placed beneath a deuterated polyethylene foil, both forming the
production target. Th ions laser-accelerated to about 7 MeV/u will pass through
a thin CH2 layer placed in front of a thicker second Th foil closely behind the
production target and disintegrate into light and heavy fission fragments. In
addition, light ions (d,C) from the CD2 production target will be accelerated
as well to about 7 MeV/u, inducing the fission process of 232Th also in the
second Th layer. The laser-accelerated ion bunches with solid-state density,
which are about 10^14 times more dense than classically accelerated ion
bunches, allow for a high probability that generated fission products can fuse
again. In contrast to classical radioactive beam facilities, where intense but
low-density radioactive beams are merged with stable targets, the novel
fission-fusion process draws on the fusion between neutron-rich, short-lived,
light fission fragments both from beam and target. The high ion beam density
may lead to a strong collective modification of the stopping power in the
target, leading to significant range enhancement. Using a high-intensity laser
as envisaged for the ELI-Nuclear Physics project in Bucharest (ELI-NP),
estimates promise a fusion yield of about 10^3 ions per laser pulse in the mass
range of A=180-190, thus enabling to approach the r-process waiting point at
N=126.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure
The Refractive Index of Silicon at Gamma Ray Energies
The index of refraction n(E_{\gamma})=1+\delta(E_{\gamma})+i\beta(E_{\gamma})
is split into a real part \delta and an absorptive part \beta. The absorptive
part has the three well-known contributions to the cross section \sigma_{abs}:
the photo effect, the Compton effect and the pair creation, but there is also
the inelastic Delbr\"uck scattering. Second-order elastic scattering cross
sections \sigma_{sca} with Rayleigh scattering (virtual photo effect), virtual
Compton effect and Delbr\"uck scattering (virtual pair creation) can be
calculated by integrals of the Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations from the
cross section \sigma_{abs}. The real elastic scattering amplitudes are
proportional to the refractive indices \delta_{photo}, \delta_{Compton} and
\delta_{pair}. While for X-rays the negative \delta_{photo} dominates, we show
for the first time experimentally and theoretically that the positive
\delta_{pair} dominates for \gamma rays, opening a new era of \gamma optics
applications, i.e. of nuclear photonics.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Diagnostic criterion for crystallized beams
Small ion crystals in a Paul trap are stable even in the absence of laser
cooling. Based on this theoretically and experimentally well-established fact
we propose the following diagnostic criterion for establishing the presence of
a crystallized beam: Absence of heating following the shut-down of all cooling
devices. The validity of the criterion is checked with the help of detailed
numerical simulations.Comment: REVTeX, 11 pages, 4 figures; submitted to PR
On the feasibility of a nuclear exciton laser
Nuclear excitons known from M\"ossbauer spectroscopy describe coherent
excitations of a large number of nuclei -- analogous to Dicke states (or Dicke
super-radiance) in quantum optics. In this paper, we study the possibility of
constructing a laser based on these coherent excitations. In contrast to the
free electron laser (in its usual design), such a device would be based on
stimulated emission and thus might offer certain advantages, e.g., regarding
energy-momentum accuracy. Unfortunately, inserting realistic parameters, the
window of operability is probably not open (yet) to present-day technology --
but our design should be feasible in the UV regime, for example.Comment: 7 pages RevTeX, 4 figure
Ultrasmall divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils
We report on experimental studies of divergence of proton beams from
nanometer thick diamond-like carbon (DLC) foils irradiated by an intense laser
with high contrast. Proton beams with extremely small divergence (half angle)
of 2 degree are observed in addition with a remarkably well-collimated feature
over the whole energy range, showing one order of magnitude reduction of the
divergence angle in comparison to the results from micrometer thick targets. We
demonstrate that this reduction arises from a steep longitudinal electron
density gradient and an exponentially decaying transverse profile at the rear
side of the ultrathin foils. Agreements are found both in an analytical model
and in particle-in-cell simulations. Those novel features make nm foils an
attractive alternative for high flux experiments relevant for fundamental
research in nuclear and warm dense matter physics.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Exploring the multi-humped fission barrier of 238U via sub-barrier photofission
The photofission cross-section of 238U was measured at sub-barrier energies
as a function of the gamma-ray energy using, for the first time, a
monochromatic, high-brilliance, Compton-backscattered gamma-ray beam. The
experiment was performed at the High Intensity gamma-ray Source (HIgS) facility
at beam energies between E=4.7 MeV and 6.0 MeV and with ~3% energy resolution.
Indications of transmission resonances have been observed at gamma-ray beam
energies of E=5.1 MeV and 5.6 MeV with moderate amplitudes. The triple-humped
fission barrier parameters of 238U have been determined by fitting EMPIRE-3.1
nuclear reaction code calculations to the experimental photofission cross
section.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Transmission resonance spectroscopy in the third minimum of 232Pa
The fission probability of 232Pa was measured as a function of the excitation
energy in order to search for hyperdeformed (HD) transmission resonances using
the (d,pf) transfer reaction on a radioactive 231Pa target. The experiment was
performed at the Tandem accelerator of the Maier-Leibnitz Laboratory (MLL) at
Garching using the 231Pa(d,pf) reaction at a bombarding energy of E=12 MeV and
with an energy resolution of dE=5.5 keV. Two groups of transmission resonances
have been observed at excitation energies of E=5.7 and 5.9 MeV. The fine
structure of the resonance group at E=5.7 MeV could be interpreted as
overlapping rotational bands with a rotational parameter characteristic to a HD
nuclear shape. The fission barrier parameters of 232Pa have been determined by
fitting TALYS 1.2 nuclear reaction code calculations to the overall structure
of the fission probability. From the average level spacing of the J=4 states,
the excitation energy of the ground state of the 3rd minimum has been deduced
to be E(III)=5.05 MeV.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure
Pion and muon production in electron-positron photon plasma
We study production and equilibration of pions and muons in relativistic
electron-positron-photon plasma at a temperature . We argue
that the observation of pions and muons can be a diagnostic tool in the study
of the initial properties of such a plasma formed by means of strong laser
fields. Conversely, properties of muons and pions in thermal environment become
accessible to precise experimental study.Comment: 16 pages, v3 imporved presentation in response to PRD review, v4
minor corrections presumably the "to be" published versio
Dynamics of Nanometer-Scale Foil Targets Irradiated with Relativistically Intense Laser Pulses
In this letter we report on an experimental study of high harmonic radiation
generated in nanometer-scale foil targets irradiated under normal incidence.
The experiments constitute the first unambiguous observation of odd-numbered
relativistic harmonics generated by the component of the
Lorentz force verifying a long predicted property of solid target harmonics.
Simultaneously the observed harmonic spectra allow in-situ extraction of the
target density in an experimental scenario which is of utmost interest for
applications such as ion acceleration by the radiation pressure of an
ultraintense laser.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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