Laser Produced Neutrons and Isotope Activation at the Nevada Terawatt Facility

POSTER

Abstract

Preliminary feasibility studies of pulsed-power based neutron and isotope production is underway at the Nevada Terawatt Facility. Both the Leopard Laser and Zebra Z-pinch systems have been utilized for neutron and isotope production studies. Preliminary experiments on Leopard have successfully produced $\sim$10$^{6}$ neutrons per laser shot using 5 $\mu$m Au foil targets with 6 mm of LiF as a converter material. Alternate materials for both thin foil targets and converters are being investigated, along with modifications to laser targets, in an effort to improve neutron and isotope yields from NTF systems Preliminary experiments on Zebra Z-pinch have successfully produced radioactive isotopes that decay via the $\beta$+ pathway. It is believe that the parent isotopes originate in the shot hardware (Type 304 SST) used to support deuterium treated Pd wire loads. The radioactive decay of the daughter isotopes is measured using a standard nuclear coincidence detection technique. Follow on experiments are being designed to increase yields in laser and Z-pinch shots and further explore the mechanisms governing isotope production in Z-pinch shots.

Authors

  • Zephyr McCormick

    University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department

  • V.V. Shlyaptseva

    California State University, Dominguez Hills, Univ of California - Irvine, University of Chicago, UC Merced, NINT, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, MIT, NASA/GSFC, CRESST/UMBC \& NASA/GSFC, LLNL, MPI for Plasma Physics, Remeis-Sternwarte/ECAP/FAU, Humboldt State University, University of Nevada Reno, The University of Michigan, University of Nevada, Reno, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Univ of Nevada - Reno, University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department, Jilin University, China, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, UC Santa Barbara, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, University of California at Merced, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/UPMC/Universit\'e Paris Sud), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 USA, University of Nevada-Reno

  • V.V. Shlyaptseva

    California State University, Dominguez Hills, Univ of California - Irvine, University of Chicago, UC Merced, NINT, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, MIT, NASA/GSFC, CRESST/UMBC \& NASA/GSFC, LLNL, MPI for Plasma Physics, Remeis-Sternwarte/ECAP/FAU, Humboldt State University, University of Nevada Reno, The University of Michigan, University of Nevada, Reno, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Univ of Nevada - Reno, University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department, Jilin University, China, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, UC Santa Barbara, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, University of California at Merced, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/UPMC/Universit\'e Paris Sud), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 USA, University of Nevada-Reno

  • V.V. Shlyaptseva

    California State University, Dominguez Hills, Univ of California - Irvine, University of Chicago, UC Merced, NINT, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, MIT, NASA/GSFC, CRESST/UMBC \& NASA/GSFC, LLNL, MPI for Plasma Physics, Remeis-Sternwarte/ECAP/FAU, Humboldt State University, University of Nevada Reno, The University of Michigan, University of Nevada, Reno, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Univ of Nevada - Reno, University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department, Jilin University, China, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, UC Santa Barbara, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, University of California at Merced, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/UPMC/Universit\'e Paris Sud), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 USA, University of Nevada-Reno

  • V.V. Shlyaptseva

    California State University, Dominguez Hills, Univ of California - Irvine, University of Chicago, UC Merced, NINT, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, MIT, NASA/GSFC, CRESST/UMBC \& NASA/GSFC, LLNL, MPI for Plasma Physics, Remeis-Sternwarte/ECAP/FAU, Humboldt State University, University of Nevada Reno, The University of Michigan, University of Nevada, Reno, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Univ of Nevada - Reno, University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department, Jilin University, China, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, UC Santa Barbara, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, University of California at Merced, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/UPMC/Universit\'e Paris Sud), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 USA, University of Nevada-Reno

  • V.V. Shlyaptseva

    California State University, Dominguez Hills, Univ of California - Irvine, University of Chicago, UC Merced, NINT, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, MIT, NASA/GSFC, CRESST/UMBC \& NASA/GSFC, LLNL, MPI for Plasma Physics, Remeis-Sternwarte/ECAP/FAU, Humboldt State University, University of Nevada Reno, The University of Michigan, University of Nevada, Reno, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Univ of Nevada - Reno, University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department, Jilin University, China, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, UC Santa Barbara, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, University of California at Merced, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/UPMC/Universit\'e Paris Sud), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 USA, University of Nevada-Reno

  • V.V. Shlyaptseva

    California State University, Dominguez Hills, Univ of California - Irvine, University of Chicago, UC Merced, NINT, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, MIT, NASA/GSFC, CRESST/UMBC \& NASA/GSFC, LLNL, MPI for Plasma Physics, Remeis-Sternwarte/ECAP/FAU, Humboldt State University, University of Nevada Reno, The University of Michigan, University of Nevada, Reno, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Univ of Nevada - Reno, University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department, Jilin University, China, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Advanced Materials Laboratory, National Institute for Materials Science, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, UC Santa Barbara, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, University of California at Merced, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/UPMC/Universit\'e Paris Sud), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 USA, University of Nevada-Reno

  • Aaron Covington

    University of Nevada, Reno, University of Nevada, Reno - Physics Department