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Yao YL, He SK, Lei Z, Ye T, Xie Y, Deng ZG, Cui B, Qi W, Yang L, Zhu SP, He XT, Zhou WM, Qiao B. High-Flux Neutron Generator Based on Laser-Driven Collisionless Shock Acceleration. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:025101. [PMID: 37505952 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.025101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
A novel compact high-flux neutron generator with a pitcher-catcher configuration based on laser-driven collisionless shock acceleration (CSA) is proposed and experimentally verified. Different from those that previously relied on target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA), CSA in nature favors not only acceleration of deuterons (instead of hydrogen contaminants) but also increasing of the number of deuterons in the high-energy range, therefore having great advantages for production of high-flux neutron source. The proof-of-principle experiment has observed a typical CSA plateau feature from 2 to 6 MeV in deuteron energy spectrum and measured a forward neutron flux with yield 6.6×10^{7} n/sr from the LiF catcher target, an order of magnitude higher than the compared TNSA case, where the laser intensity is 10^{19} W/cm^{2}. Self-consistent simulations have reproduced the experimental results and predicted that a high-flux forward neutron source with yield up to 5×10^{10} n/sr can be obtained when laser intensity increases to 10^{21} W/cm^{2} under the same laser energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y L Yao
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - S K He
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Z Lei
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - T Ye
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Y Xie
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Z G Deng
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - B Cui
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - W Qi
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - L Yang
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - S P Zhu
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, China
| | - X T He
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, China
| | - W M Zhou
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - B Qiao
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronic, Peking University, Beijing 100094, China
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Waker AJ. Performance of a high sensitivity multi-element tissue equivalent proportional counter for radiation protection neutron monitoring measurements. HEALTH PHYSICS 2010; 98:692-703. [PMID: 20386199 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0b013e3181cfe1e9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
This study describes the performance of a novel design of compact multi-element tissue equivalent proportional counter (METEPC), which consists of 61 individual cylindrical counting volumes machined in a single block of tissue equivalent plastic. Each counting volume is a separate cylinder of internal diameter of 0.5 cm and height 5 cm. The performance of the METEPC was examined experimentally to obtain microdosimetric information, absorbed dose, dose equivalent, and sensitivity in the neutron energy range of 34 to 423 keV where commercially available tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPCs) under respond as much as 40% of the ambient dose equivalent. A simple elongated cylindrical sampling geometry of METEPC provides very good estimates of microdosimetric average, y(D), and dosimetric quantities of interest, H*(10) and Q, which are comparable to those obtained with the conventional spherical sampling geometry of a standard TEPC. The sensitivity of METEPC is comparable to that of a conventional 12.7 cm diameter TEPC, which suggests that it is able to produce measurements in low dose rate radiation environments with the same precision in a given length of time as that obtained with the conventional TEPC. METEPC, being possibly the simplest design available in the multi-element geometrical configuration and approximately 9 times smaller in volume than that of a conventional 12.7 cm diameter TEPC, could form the basis of a portable monitoring system in mixed field radiation environments and may also be useful for radiation dosimetric measurements in beams of limited cross-sections and in phantoms.
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Aslam, Chettle DR, Pejović-Milić A, Waker AJ. Opportunities to improve thein vivomeasurement of manganese in human hands. Phys Med Biol 2008; 54:17-28. [DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/54/1/002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Aslam, Pejović-Milić A, McNeill FE, Byun SH, Prestwich WV, Chettle DR. In vivoassessment of magnesium status in human body using accelerator-based neutron activation measurement of hands: A pilot study. Med Phys 2008; 35:608-16. [DOI: 10.1118/1.2830383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Byun SH, Pejović-Milić A, McMaster S, Matysiak W, Liu Z, Watters LM, Prestwich WV, McNeill FE, Chettle DR. Dosimetric characterization of the irradiation cavity for accelerator-basedin vivoneutron activation analysis. Phys Med Biol 2007; 52:1693-703. [PMID: 17455391 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/52/6/010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A neutron irradiation cavity for in vivo activation analysis has been characterized to estimate its dosimetric specifications. The cavity is defined to confine irradiation to the hand and modifies the neutron spectrum produced by a low energy accelerator neutron source to optimize activation per dose. Neutron and gamma-ray dose rates were measured with the microdosimetric technique using a tissue-equivalent proportional counter at the hand irradiation site and inside the hand access hole. For the outside of the cavity, a spherical neutron dose equivalent meter and a Farmer dosemeter were employed instead due to the low intensity of the radiation field. The maximum dose equivalent rate at the outside of the cavity was 2.94 microSv/100 microA min, which is lower by a factor of 1/2260 than the dose rate at the hand irradiation position. The local dose contributions from a hand, an arm and the rest of a body to the effective dose rate were estimated to be 1.73, 0.782 and 2.94 microSv/100 microA min, respectively. For the standard irradiation protocol of the in vivo hand activation, 300 microA min, an effective dose of 16.3 microSv would be delivered.
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Affiliation(s)
- S H Byun
- Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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Ryan LA, Wilkins RC, McFarlane NM, Sung MM, McNamee JP, Boreham DR. Relative biological effectiveness of 280 keV neutrons for apoptosis in human lymphocytes. HEALTH PHYSICS 2006; 91:68-75. [PMID: 16775482 DOI: 10.1097/01.hp.0000200339.91550.6b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons varies from unity to greater than ten depending upon neutron energy and the biological endpoint measured. In our study, we examined apoptosis in human lymphocytes to assess the RBE of low energy 280 keV neutrons compared to Cs gamma radiation and found the RBE to be approximately one. Similar results have been observed for high energy neutrons using the same endpoint. As apoptosis is a major process that influences the consequences of radiation exposure, our results indicate that biological effect and the corresponding weighting factors for 280 keV neutrons may be lower in some cell types and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Ryan
- McMaster University, Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences Unit, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. L8S 4K1.
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Prestwich WV, McNeill FE, Waker AJ. Monte Carlo simulation of neutron irradiation facility developed for accelerator based in vivo neutron activation measurements in human hand bones. Appl Radiat Isot 2006; 64:63-84. [PMID: 16122932 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2005.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2003] [Accepted: 06/24/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The neutron irradiation facility developed at the McMaster University 3 MV Van de Graaff accelerator was employed to assess in vivo elemental content of aluminum and manganese in human hands. These measurements were carried out to monitor the long-term exposure of these potentially toxic trace elements through hand bone levels. The dose equivalent delivered to a patient during irradiation procedure is the limiting factor for IVNAA measurements. This article describes a method to estimate the average radiation dose equivalent delivered to the patient's hand during irradiation. The computational method described in this work augments the dose measurements carried out earlier [Arnold et al., 2002. Med. Phys. 29(11), 2718-2724]. This method employs the Monte Carlo simulation of hand irradiation facility using MCNP4B. Based on the estimated dose equivalents received by the patient hand, the proposed irradiation procedure for the IVNAA measurement of manganese in human hands [Arnold et al., 2002. Med. Phys. 29(11), 2718-2724] with normal (1 ppm) and elevated manganese content can be carried out with a reasonably low dose of 31 mSv to the hand. Sixty-three percent of the total dose equivalent is delivered by non-useful fast group (> 10 keV); the filtration of this neutron group from the beam will further decrease the dose equivalent to the patient's hand.
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Prestwich WV, McNeill FE, Waker AJ. Development of a low-energy monoenergetic neutron source for applications in low-dose radiobiological and radiochemical research. Appl Radiat Isot 2003; 58:629-42. [PMID: 12798371 DOI: 10.1016/s0969-8043(03)00069-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The McMaster University 3 MV KN Van de Graff accelerator facility primarily dedicated to in vivo neutron activation measurements has been used to produce moderate dose rates of monoenergetic fast neutrons of energy ranging from 150 to 600 keV with a small energy spread of about 25 keV (1sigma width of Gaussian) by bombarding thin lithium targets with 2.00-2.40 MeV protons. The calculated dose rate of the monoenergetic neutrons produced using thin lithium targets as functions of beam energy, target thickness, lab angle relative to beam direction, and the solid angle subtended by the sample with the target has also been reported.
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