In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser

Nuclear reactions between protons and boron-11 nuclei (p–B fusion) that were used to yield energetic α-particles were initiated in a plasma that was generated by the interaction between a PW-class laser operating at relativistic intensities (~3 × 10^19 W/cm2) and a 0.2-mm thick boron nitride (BN) target. A high p–B fusion reaction rate and hence, a large α-particle flux was generated and measured, thanks to a proton stream accelerated at the target’s front surface. This was the first proof of principle experiment to demonstrate the efficient generation of α-particles (~10^10/sr) through p–B fusion reactions using a PW-class laser in the “in-target” geometry

Generation of α-Particle Beams With a Multi-kJ, Peta-Watt Class Laser System

We present preliminary results on generation of energetic α-particles driven by lasers. The experiment was performed at the Institute of Laser Engineering in Osaka using the short-pulse, high-intensity, high-energy, PW-class laser. The laser pulse was focused onto a thin plastic foil (pitcher) to generate a proton beam by the well-known TNSA mechanism which, in turn, was impinging onto a boron-nitride (BN) target (catcher) to generated alpha-particles as a result of proton-boron nuclear fusion events. Our results demonstrate generation of α-particles with energies in the range 8–10 MeV and with a flux around 5 × 10^9 sr^−1

In-Target Proton−Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser

none15siNuclear reactions between protons and boron-11 nuclei (p–B fusion) that were used to yield energetic α-particles were initiated in a plasma that was generated by the interaction between a PW-class laser operating at relativistic intensities (~3 × 1019 W/cm2) and a 0.2-mm thick boron nitride (BN) target. A high p–B fusion reaction rate and hence, a large α-particle flux was generated and measured, thanks to a proton stream accelerated at the target’s front surface. This was the first proof of principle experiment to demonstrate the efficient generation of α-particles (~1010/sr) through p–B fusion reactions using a PW-class laser in the “in-target” geometry.noneDaniele Margarone, Julien Bonvalet , Lorenzo Giuffrida, Alessio Morace , Vasiliki Kantarelou , Marco Tosca, Didier Raffestin, Philippe Nicolai, Antonino Picciotto, Yuki Abe, Yasunobu Arikawa, Shinsuke Fujioka, Yuji Fukuda, Yasuhiro Kuramitsu, Hideaki Habara and Dimitri Batani.Margarone, Daniele; Bonvalet, Julien; Giuffrida, Lorenzo; Morace, Alessio; Kantarelou, Vasiliki; Tosca, Marco; Raffestin, Didier; Nicolai, Philippe; Picciotto, Antonino; Abe, Yuki; Arikawa, Yasunobu; Fujioka, Shinsuke; Fukuda, Yuji; Kuramitsu, Yasuhiro; Batani., Hideaki Habara and Dimitr

Generation of α-Particle Beams With a Multi-kJ, Peta-Watt Class Laser System

We present preliminary results on generation of energetic α-particles driven by lasers. The experiment was performed at the Institute of Laser Engineering in Osaka using the short-pulse, high-intensity, high-energy, PW-class laser. The laser pulse was focused onto a thin plastic foil (pitcher) to generate a proton beam by the well-known TNSA mechanism which, in turn, was impinging onto a boron-nitride (BN) target (catcher) to generated alpha-particles as a result of proton-boron nuclear fusion events. Our results demonstrate generation of α-particles with energies in the range 8–10 MeV and with a flux around 5 × 109 sr−1

SEPAGE: a proton-ion-electron spectrometer for LMJ-PETAL

International audienceThe SEPAGE spectrometer (Spectromètre Electrons Protons A Grandes Energies) was realized within the PETAL+ project funded by the French ANR (French National Agency for Research). This plasma diagnostic, installed on the LMJ-PETAL laser facility, is dedicated to the measurement of charged particle energy spectra generated by experiments using PETAL (PETawatt Aquitaine Laser). SEPAGE is inserted inside the 10-meter diameter LMJ experimental chamber with a SID (Diagnostic Insertion System) in order to be close enough to the target. It is composed of two Thomson Parabola measuring ion spectra and more particularly proton spectra ranging from 0.1 to 20 MeV and from 8 to 200 MeV for the low and high energy channels respectively. The electron spectrum is also measured with an energy range between 0.1 and 150 MeV. The front part of the diagnostic carries a film stack that can be placed as close as 100 mm from the target center chamber. This stack allows a spatial and spectral characterization of the entire proton beam. It can also be used to realize proton radiographies

Progress in warm dense matter study with applications to planetology

We present an overview of some recent theoretical and experimental results obtained on the properties of iron and silica at conditions encountered in planetary interiors. The first part is concerned with the development of x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy in dynamical experiments using high-energy lasers as a tool to investigate phase transitions and structural changes at extreme pressure-temperature conditions for these two key constituents. The second part focuses on the development of a quasi-isentropic compression technique to achieve the pressure-temperature conditions anticipated in planetary interiors (3-10 Mbar, 5000-8000 K). The experiments were performed using the LULI, LLNL and LIL high-energy lasers' facilities. The experimental results are analyzed using first-principle simulations based on density functional theory

Radioisotope production using lasers: From basic science to applications

The discovery of chirped pulse amplification has led to great improvements in laser technology, enabling energetic laser beams to be compressed to pulse durations of tens of femtoseconds and focused to a few micrometers. Protons with energies of tens of MeV can be accelerated using, for instance, target normal sheath acceleration and focused on secondary targets. Under such conditions, nuclear reactions can occur, with the production of radioisotopes suitable for medical application. The use of high-repetition lasers to produce such isotopes is competitive with conventional methods mostly based on accelerators. In this paper, we study the production of 67Cu, 63Zn, 18F, and 11C, which are currently used in positron emission tomography and other applications. At the same time, we study the reactions 10B(p,α)7Be and 70Zn(p,4n)67Ga to put further constraints on the proton distributions at different angles, as well as the reaction 11B(p,α)8Be relevant for energy production. The experiment was performed at the 1 PW laser facility at Vega III in Salamanca, Spain. Angular distributions of radioisotopes in the forward (with respect to the laser direction) and backward directions were measured using a high purity germanium detector. Our results are in reasonable agreement with numerical estimates obtained following the approach of Kimura and Bonasera [Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 637, 164–170 (2011)]