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Persistent URL http://purl.org/net/epubs/work/23618278
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Record Id 23618278
Title Laser-driven x-ray and neutron source development for industrial applications of plasma accelerators
Contributors
Abstract Pulsed beams of energetic X-rays and neutrons from intense laser interactions with solid foils are promising for applications where bright, small emission area sources, capable of multi-modal delivery are ideal. Possible end users of laser-driven multi-modal sources are those requiring advanced non-destructive inspection techniques in industry sectors of high value commerce such as aerospace, nuclear and advanced manufacturing. We report on experimental work that demonstrates multi-modal operation of high power laser-solid interactions for neutron and X-ray beam generation. Measurements and Monte-Carlo radiation transport simulations show that neutron yield is increased by a factor ~ 2 when a 1mm copper foil is placed behind a 2mm lithium foil, compared to using a 2cm block of lithium only. We explore X-ray generation with a 10 picosecond drive pulse in order to tailor the spectral content for radiography with medium density alloy metals. The impact of using >1ps pulse duration on laser-accelerated electron beam generation and transport is discussed alongside the optimisation of subsequent Bremsstrahlung emission in thin, high atomic number target foils. X-ray spectra are deconvolved from spectrometer measurements and simulation data generated using the GEANT4 Monte-Carlo code. We also demonstrate the unique capability of laser-driven X-rays in being able to deliver single pulse high spatial resolution projection imaging of thick metallic objects. Active detector radiographic imaging of industrially relevant sample objects with a 10ps drive pulse is presented for the first time, demonstrating that features of 200µm size are resolved when projected at high magnification.
Organisation CLF , CI , STFC
Keywords
Funding Information EPSRC (EP/K022415/1); EPSRC (EP/J003832/1); EPSRC (EP/L001357/1); STFC (ST/K502340/1); EU, Framework Programme 7
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Language English (EN)
Type Details URI(s) Local file(s) Year
Journal Article Plasma Phys Contr F 58, no. 1 (2016): 014039. Is in proceedings of: 42nd European Physical Society Conference on Plasma Physics, Lisbon, Portugal, 22-26 Jun 2015. doi:10.1088/0741-3335/58/1/014039 2016