Single-shot laser-driven neutron resonance spectroscopy for temperature profiling

Lan Z., Arikawa Y., Mirfayzi S.R., et al. Single-shot laser-driven neutron resonance spectroscopy for temperature profiling. Nature Communications 15, 5365 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49142-y.The temperature measurement of material inside of an object is one of the key technologies for control of dynamical processes. For this purpose, various techniques such as laser-based thermography and phase-contrast imaging thermography have been studied. However, it is, in principle, impossible to measure the temperature of an element inside of an object using these techniques. One of the possible solutions is measurements of Doppler brooding effect in neutron resonance absorption (NRA). Here we present a method to measure the temperature of an element or an isotope inside of an object using NRA with a single neutron pulse of approximately 100 ns width provided from a high-power laser. We demonstrate temperature measurements of a tantalum (Ta) metallic foil heated from the room temperature up to 617 K. Although the neutron energy resolution is fluctuated from shot to shot, we obtain the temperature dependence of resonance Doppler broadening using a reference of a silver (Ag) foil kept to the room temperature. A free gas model well reproduces the results. This method enables element(isotope)-sensitive thermometry to detect the instantaneous temperature rise in dynamical processes

Evaluating laser-driven Bremsstrahlung radiation sources for imaging and analysis of nuclear waste packages

A small scale sample nuclear waste package, consisting of a 28 mm diameter uranium penny encased in grout, was imaged by absorption contrast radiography using a single pulse exposure from an X-ray source driven by a high-power laser. The Vulcan laser was used to deliver a focused pulse of photons to a tantalum foil, in order to generate a bright burst of highly penetrating X-rays (with energy >500 keV), with a source size of <0.5 mm. BAS-TR and BAS-SR image plates were used for image capture, alongside a newly developed Thalium doped Caesium Iodide scintillator-based detector coupled to CCD chips. The uranium penny was clearly resolved to sub-mm accuracy over a 30 cm2 scan area from a single shot acquisition. In addition, neutron generation was demonstrated in situ with the X-ray beam, with a single shot, thus demonstrating the potential for multi-modal criticality testing of waste materials. This feasibility study successfully demonstrated non-destructive radiography of encapsulated, high density, nuclear material. With recent developments of high-power laser systems, to 10 Hz operation, a laser-driven multi-modal beamline for waste monitoring applications is envisioned

Development of a Time-Gated Epithermal Neutron Spectrometer for Resonance Absorption Measurements Driven by a High-Intensity Laser

The advance of laser-driven neutron sources (LDNSs) has enabled neutron resonance spectroscopy to be performed with a single shot of a laser. In this study, we describe a detection system of epithermal (∼eV) neutrons especially designed for neutron resonance spectroscopy. A time-gated photomultiplier tube (PMT) with a high cut-off ratio was introduced for epithermal neutron detection in a high-power laser experiment at the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University. We successfully reduced the PMT response to the intense hard X-ray generated as a result of the interaction between laser light and the target material. A time-gated circuit was designed to turn off the response of the PMT during the laser pulse and resume recording the signal when neutrons arrive. The time-gated PMT was coupled with a 6Li glass scintillator, serving as a time-of-flight (TOF) detector to measure the neutron resonance absorption values of 182W and 109Ag in a laser-driven epithermal neutron generation experiment. The neutron resonance peaks at 4.15 eV of 182W and 5.19 eV of 109Ag were detected after a single pulse of laser at a distance of 1.07 m

Thermal neutron fluence measurement by Cadmium differential method at laser-driven neutron source

We generated high-energy neutrons by (d, n) and (p, n) reactions on a Be target with protons and deuterons that were accelerated up to 30 and 10 MeV/u, respectively, by laser-plasma interactions. Thermal neutrons were subsequently generated through deceleration by a small moderator with conjunction on the Be target. Here we report the measurements on the thermal neutron fluence using the activation method with/without Cd filters. The unstable isotopes of 198Au, 56Mn, 60Co, and 181Hf were produced through (n, γ) reactions by a single laser shot. The nuclear reaction rates were evaluated by measurring the γ-rays emitted from these unstable isotopes. The thermal neutron fluences from the four nuclides are consistent within their experimental uncertainties. The fluence is evaluated to be (2.2±0.4)×105 neutrons/cm2 at the distance of approximately 9-mm at 90◦ against the laser axis. The present result shows that the method to generate thermal neutrons from a compact neutron source with a diamater of 44 mm and length of 46 mm is expected to be a useful tool for various nuclear experiments

Recent advances in laser-driven neutron sources

The data underpining the results presented in an article to be published in IL NUOVO CIMENTO, (2016

High Flux Neutrons Provided by a Laser driven Neutron Source and its Application to Nuclear Astrophysics

We demonstrated that (n, 2n) and (n, gamma) reactions are induced by a high-flux pulse of fast neutrons provided from a Laser-driven Neutron Source (LDNS). Several kinds of metal targets are exposed to the fast neutrons with energies of approximately 10-20 MeV. As a result, 180Hfm,181Hf, 56Mn, 198Au, and 60Co are produced by (n, gamma) reactions. Furthermore, unstable isotopes such as 54Mn, 58Co, 175Hf, and 196Au are produced by (n, 2n) reactions. We evaluate the neutron fluence and energy spectrum using the activation method in conjunction with a time-of-flight (TOF) method.The 16th international symposium on nculei in cosmo

Direct evaluation of high neutron density environment using (n,2n) reaction induced by laser-driven neutron source

We demonstrated that (n, 2n) and (n, gamma) reactions are induced by a high-flux pulse of fast neutrons provided from a Laser-driven Neutron Source (LDNS). The maximum energy of the broadband neutrons reaches a few tens MeV. Several kinds of metal targets are exposed to the fast neutrons. As a result, unstable isotopes such as 54Mn, 58Co, 175Hf, and 196Au are produced by (n, 2n) reactions and 180Hfm,181Hf, 56Mn, 198Au, and 60Co are produced by (n, gamma) reactions. We evaluate the neutron fluence and energy spectrum using the activation method in conjunction with a time-of-flight (TOF) method. The present scheme provides a method to evaluate high density neutrons seen in stellar environments, which are expected to be generated from future LDNSs

Non-destructive inspection of water or high-pressure hydrogen gas in metal pipes by the flash of neutrons and X-rays generated by laser

Low-energy neutrons in the thermal and epithermal energy regions are a powerful probe to inspect water or high pressure hydrogen gas because of their large scattering cross-sections with protons. Laser-driven neutron source, whichis able to simultaneously emit different types of radiations such as X-rays, can be used for neutron and X-ray radiography in the same laser shot. In the present paper, we report the demonstration of non-destructive inspection for H2Oinside of a stainless steel pipe using a laser driven thermal neutron source, where water and stainless containers are detected by neutrons and X-rays, respectively. The simulation result indicates that this method is also able to measure accurately the hydrogen density in high-pressure hydrogen gas in metal containers