Generation of high-energy neutrons with the 300-ps-laser system PALS

Abstract

The laser system PALS, as a driver of a broad-beam ion source, delivered deuterons which generated neutrons with energies higher than 14 MeV through the 7Li(d,n)8Be reaction. Deuterons with sub-MeV energy were accelerated from the front surface of a massive CD2 target in the backward direction with respect to the laser beam vector. Simultaneously, neutrons were emitted from the primary CD2 target and a secondary LiF catcher. The total maximum measured neutron yield from 2D(d,n)3He, 7Li(d,n)8Be, 12C(d,n)13N reactions was ∼ 3.5 (± 0.5) × 108 neutrons/shot.