1
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Schollmeier MS, Bekx JJ, Hartmann J, Schork E, Speicher M, Brodersen AF, Fazzini A, Fischer P, Gaul E, Gonzalez-Izquierdo B, Günther MM, Härle AK, Hollinger R, Kenney K, Park J, Rivas DE, Scutelnic V, Shpilman Z, Wang S, Rocca JJ, Korn G. Differentiating multi-MeV, multi-ion spectra with CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18155. [PMID: 37875514 PMCID: PMC10598230 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45208-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of high intensity petawatt lasers has created new possibilities for ion acceleration and nuclear fusion using solid targets. In such laser-matter interaction, multiple ion species are accelerated with broad spectra up to hundreds of MeV. To measure ion yields and for species identification, CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors are frequently used. However, these detectors are limited in their applicability for multi-ion spectra differentiation as standard image recognition algorithms can lead to a misinterpretation of data, there is no unique relation between track diameter and particle energy, and there are overlapping pit diameter relationships for multiple particle species. In this report, we address these issues by first developing an algorithm to overcome user bias during image processing. Second, we use calibration of the detector response for protons, carbon and helium ions (alpha particles) from 0.1 to above 10 MeV and measurements of statistical energy loss fluctuations in a forward-fitting procedure utilizing multiple, differently filtered CR-39, altogether enabling high-sensitivity, multi-species particle spectroscopy. To validate this capability, we show that inferred CR-39 spectra match Thomson parabola ion spectrometer data from the same experiment. Filtered CR-39 spectrometers were used to detect, within a background of ~ 2 × 1011 sr-1 J-1 protons and carbons, (1.3 ± 0.7) × 108 sr-1 J-1 alpha particles from laser-driven proton-boron fusion reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Schollmeier
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany.
| | - J J Bekx
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - J Hartmann
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - E Schork
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - M Speicher
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - A F Brodersen
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - A Fazzini
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - P Fischer
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - E Gaul
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | | | - M M Günther
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - A K Härle
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - R Hollinger
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - K Kenney
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - J Park
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - D E Rivas
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - V Scutelnic
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
| | - Z Shpilman
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - S Wang
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - J J Rocca
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
- Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - G Korn
- Marvel Fusion GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339, Munich, Germany
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2
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Ribeyre X, Capdessus R, Wheeler J, d'Humières E, Mourou G. Multiscale study of high energy attosecond pulse interaction with matter and application to proton-Boron fusion. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4665. [PMID: 35304500 PMCID: PMC8933570 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08433-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
For several decades, the interest of the scientific community in aneutronic fusion reactions such as proton-Boron fusion has grown because of potential applications in different fields. Recently, many scientific teams in the world have worked experimentally on the possibility to trigger proton-Boron fusion using intense lasers demonstrating an important renewal of interest of this field. It is now possible to generate ultra-short high intensity laser pulses at high repetition rate. These pulses also have unique properties that can be leveraged to produce proton-Boron fusion reactions. In this article, we investigate the interaction of a high energy attosecond pulse with a solid proton-Boron target and the associated ion acceleration supported by numerical simulations. We demonstrate the efficiency of single-cycle attosecond pulses in comparison to multi-cycle attosecond pulses in ion acceleration and magnetic field generation. Using these results we also propose a path to proton-Boron fusion using high energy attosecond pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Ribeyre
- Centre Laser Intenses et Applications, Univ. Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR 5107, 33405, Talence, France.
| | - R Capdessus
- Centre Laser Intenses et Applications, Univ. Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR 5107, 33405, Talence, France
| | - J Wheeler
- DER-IZEST, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128, Palaiseau Cedex, France
| | - E d'Humières
- Centre Laser Intenses et Applications, Univ. Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR 5107, 33405, Talence, France
| | - G Mourou
- DER-IZEST, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128, Palaiseau Cedex, France
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3
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Bonvalet J, Nicolaï P, Raffestin D, D'humieres E, Batani D, Tikhonchuk V, Kantarelou V, Giuffrida L, Tosca M, Korn G, Picciotto A, Morace A, Abe Y, Arikawa Y, Fujioka S, Fukuda Y, Kuramitsu Y, Habara H, Margarone D. Energetic α-particle sources produced through proton-boron reactions by high-energy high-intensity laser beams. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:053202. [PMID: 34134285 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.053202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In an experiment performed with a high-intensity and high-energy laser system, α-particle production in proton-boron reaction by using a laser-driven proton beam was measured. α particles were observed from the front and also from the rear side, even after a 2-mm-thick boron target. The data obtained in this experiment have been analyzed using a sequence of numerical simulations. The simulations clarify the mechanisms of α-particle production and transport through the boron targets. α-particle energies observed in the experiment and in the simulation reach 10-20 MeV through energy transfer from 20-30 MeV energy incident protons. Despite the lower cross sections for protons with energy above the sub-MeV resonances in the proton-boron reactions, 10^{8}-10^{9}α particles per steradian have been detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bonvalet
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - Ph Nicolaï
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - D Raffestin
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - E D'humieres
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - D Batani
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - V Tikhonchuk
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France.,ELI-Beamlines Center, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - V Kantarelou
- ELI-Beamlines Center, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - L Giuffrida
- ELI-Beamlines Center, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - M Tosca
- ELI-Beamlines Center, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - G Korn
- ELI-Beamlines Center, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - A Picciotto
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Sensors and Devices - Micro Nano Facility, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - A Morace
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Y Abe
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Y Arikawa
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - S Fujioka
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Y Fukuda
- Kansai Photon Science Institute (KPSI), National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto 619- 0215, Japan
| | - Y Kuramitsu
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - H Habara
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - D Margarone
- ELI-Beamlines Center, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic.,Centre for Plasma Physics, Queen's University Belfast, BT71NN Belfast, Northen Ireland, United Kingdom
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4
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Giuffrida L, Belloni F, Margarone D, Petringa G, Milluzzo G, Scuderi V, Velyhan A, Rosinski M, Picciotto A, Kucharik M, Dostal J, Dudzak R, Krasa J, Istokskaia V, Catalano R, Tudisco S, Verona C, Jungwirth K, Bellutti P, Korn G, Cirrone GAP. High-current stream of energetic α particles from laser-driven proton-boron fusion. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:013204. [PMID: 32069635 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.013204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear reaction known as proton-boron fusion has been triggered by a subnanosecond laser system focused onto a thick boron nitride target at modest laser intensity (∼10^{16}W/cm^{2}), resulting in a record yield of generated α particles. The estimated value of α particles emitted per laser pulse is around 10^{11}, thus orders of magnitude higher than any other experimental result previously reported. The accelerated α-particle stream shows unique features in terms of kinetic energy (up to 10 MeV), pulse duration (∼10 ns), and peak current (∼2 A) at 1 m from the source, promising potential applications of such neutronless nuclear fusion reactions. We have used a beam-driven fusion scheme to explain the total number of α particles generated in the nuclear reaction. In this model, protons accelerated inside the plasma, moving forward into the bulk of the target, can interact with ^{11}B atoms, thus efficiently triggering fusion reactions. An overview of literature results obtained with different laser parameters, experimental setups, and target compositions is reported and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Giuffrida
- Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i (FZU), ELI-Beamlines, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Fabio Belloni
- European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Euratom Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniele Margarone
- Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i (FZU), ELI-Beamlines, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Valentina Scuderi
- Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i (FZU), ELI-Beamlines, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic.,Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, INFN, Catania, Italy
| | - Andriy Velyhan
- Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i (FZU), ELI-Beamlines, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marcin Rosinski
- Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, 01-497 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Antonino Picciotto
- Micro-Nano Facility, Center for Materials and Microsystems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Milan Kucharik
- Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, 115 19 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dostal
- Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 8, 182 00 Czech Republic.,Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 8, 182 21 Czech Republic
| | - Roman Dudzak
- Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 8, 182 00 Czech Republic.,Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 8, 182 21 Czech Republic
| | - Josef Krasa
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 8, 182 21 Czech Republic
| | - Valeria Istokskaia
- Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i (FZU), ELI-Beamlines, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic.,Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, 115 19 Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Claudio Verona
- INFN-Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Roma 'Tor Vergata,' Rome, Italy
| | - Karel Jungwirth
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 8, 182 21 Czech Republic
| | - Pierluigi Bellutti
- Micro-Nano Facility, Center for Materials and Microsystems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy
| | - Georg Korn
- Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i (FZU), ELI-Beamlines, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - G A P Cirrone
- Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i (FZU), ELI-Beamlines, 182 21, Prague, Czech Republic.,Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, INFN, Catania, Italy
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5
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Ingenito F, Andreoli P, Batani D, Bonasera A, Boutoux G, Burgy F, Cipriani M, Consoli F, Cristofari G, De Angelis R, Di Giorgio G, Ducret JE, Giulietti D, Jakubowska K. Directional Track Selection Technique in CR39 SSNTD for lowyield reaction experiments. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/201816705006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a great interest in the study of p-11B aneutronic nuclear fusion reactions, both for energy production and for determination of fusion cross-sections at low energies. In this context we performed experiments at CELIA in which energetic protons, accelerated by the laser ECLIPSE, were directed toward a solid Boron target. Because of the small cross-sections at these energies the number of expected reactions is low. CR39 Solid-State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) were used to detect the alpha particles produced. Because of the low expected yield, it is difficult to discriminate the tracks due to true fusion products from those due to natural background in the CR39. To this purpose we developed a methodology of particle recognition according to their direction with respect to the detector normal, able to determine the position of their source. We applied this to the specific experiment geometry, so to select from all the tracks those due to particles coming from the region of interaction between accelerated protons and solid boron target. This technique can be of great help on the analysis of SSNTD in experiments with low yield reactions, but can be also generally applied to any experiment where particles reach the track detector with known directions, and for example to improve the detection limit of particle spectrometers using CR39.
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6
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Laser-initiated primary and secondary nuclear reactions in Boron-Nitride. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21202. [PMID: 26882988 PMCID: PMC4756368 DOI: 10.1038/srep21202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear reactions initiated by laser-accelerated particle beams are a promising new approach to many applications, from medical radioisotopes to aneutronic energy production. We present results demonstrating the occurrence of secondary nuclear reactions, initiated by the primary nuclear reaction products, using multicomponent targets composed of either natural boron (B) or natural boron nitride (BN). The primary proton-boron reaction (p + 11B → 3 α + 8.7 MeV), is one of the most attractive aneutronic fusion reaction. We report radioactive decay signatures in targets irradiated at the Elfie laser facility by laser-accelerated particle beams which we interpret as due to secondary reactions induced by alpha (α) particles produced in the primary reactions. Use of a second nanosecond laser beam, adequately synchronized with the short laser pulse to produce a plasma target, further enhanced the reaction rates. High rates and chains of reactions are essential for most applications.
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7
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Fusion reactions initiated by laser-accelerated particle beams in a laser-produced plasma. Nat Commun 2013; 4:2506. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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8
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Pappalardo A, Cosentino L, Finocchiaro P. An imaging technique for detection and absolute calibration of scintillation light. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2010; 81:033308. [PMID: 20370171 DOI: 10.1063/1.3360931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Triggered by the need of a detection system to be used in experiments of nuclear fusion in laser-generated plasmas, we developed an imaging technique for the measurement and calibration of the scintillation light yield of scintillating materials. As in such experiments, all the reaction products are generated in an ultrashort time frame, the event-by-event data acquisition scheme is not feasible. As an alternative to the emulsion technique (or the equivalent CR39 sheets) we propose a scintillating screen readout by means of a high performance charge coupled device camera. Even though it is not strictly required in the particular application, this technique allows the absolute calibration of the scintillation light yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfio Pappalardo
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, 95125 Catania, Italy
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