Speaker
Description
The Laser-Driven Neutron Source (LDNS), a novel approach to neutron generation, has attracted significant attention due to its capability to produce neutron pulses with ultra-short duration and high flux [1].
In this presentation, we introduce our recent progress on high-flux neutron generation [1] and single-shot neutron resonance spectroscopy using LDNS [2]. In our experiments, the petawatt LFEX laser was focused onto a CD foil target to accelerate protons and deuterons. These accelerated ions subsequently interacted with a cylindrical beryllium target used as a neutron converter. Through nuclear reactions such as 9Be(p, n)9B and 9Be(d, n)10B, neutrons were generated with yields up to ~10¹¹ per pulse and durations shorter than 1 ns [1].
The generated high-energy neutrons were moderated to epithermal and lower energy ranges (meV–eV) using a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) block. A neutron beamline of 1.8 m was developed to measure neutron resonance absorption peaks near 4.28 eV from a tantalum sample heated to various temperatures. The measured neutron resonance widths exhibited clear temperature dependence due to Doppler broadening. We have successfully demonstrated isotope-selective nuclear thermometry with LDNS in a single-shot mode. The correlation between resonance width and sample temperature was determined in the range from approximately 300 K to 650 K [2]. Such single-shot, resonance-based temperature measurements would be practically impossible with conventional accelerator-driven neutron sources due to insufficient neutron flux. Detailed experimental results and their implications will be discussed.
[1] Akifumi Yogo et al, PRX 13, 011011 (2023)
[2] Zechen Lan et al, Nat. Commun. 15, 5365 (2024)
