Neutron detector for fusion reaction-rate measurements

Richard A. Lerche; D. W. Phillion; Gregory L. Tietbohl

doi:10.1117/12.161361

11 October 1993 Neutron detector for fusion reaction-rate measurements

Richard A. Lerche, D. W. Phillion, Gregory L. Tietbohl

Proceedings Volume 2002, Ultrahigh- and High-Speed Photography, Videography, and Photonics '93; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.161361
Event: SPIE's 1993 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1993, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

We have developed a fast, sensitive neutron detector for recording the fusion reaction-rate history of inertial-confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. The detector is based on the fast rise-time of a commercial plastic scintillator (BC-422) and has a response < 25 ps FWHM. A thin piece of scintillator material acts as a neutron-to-light converter. A zoom lens images light from the scintillator surface to a high-speed (15 ps) optical streak camera for recording. The zoom lens allows the scintillator to be positioned between 1 and 50 cm from a target. The camera simultaneously records an optical fiducial pulse which allows the camera time base to be calibrated relative to the incident laser power. Bursts of x rays formed by focusing 20 ps, 2.5 TW laser pulses onto gold disk targets demonstrate the detector resolution to be < 25 ps. We have recorded burn histories for deuterium/tritium-filled targets producing as few as 3 X 10⁷ neutrons.

Citation Download Citation

Richard A. Lerche, D. W. Phillion, and Gregory L. Tietbohl "Neutron detector for fusion reaction-rate measurements", Proc. SPIE 2002, Ultrahigh- and High-Speed Photography, Videography, and Photonics '93, (11 October 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.161361

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