Preliminary Tests utilizing the Z-Petawatt laser to test its applicability for Performing nTOF Impulse Response Measurements

Neutron time-of-flight (nTOF) detectors utilizing Photomultiplier Tubes (PMT) are used at Z to deduce the neutron source spectrum and birth-time. To extract the most precise information out of the recorded signal, it is crucial to know the impulse-response-function (IRF) that describes the instruments inherent broadening due to an infinitely short input signal. The Z-Petawatt laser (ZPW) can generate X-ray pulses of a few picoseconds, which is far below the IRFs for the Z-nTOFs which typically have Full-Widths-at-Half- Maximum (FWHM) of a few nanoseconds. We have begun a series of experiments utilizing the ZPL in the CHAMA target chamber to ascertain detector signal levels and x-ray and EMI backgrounds for Z-Petawatt source configurations. The motivation and status of these experiments will be presented.