1
|
Moore AS, Schlossberg DJ, Appelbe BD, Chandler GA, Crilly AJ, Eckart MJ, Forrest CJ, Glebov VY, Grim GP, Hartouni EP, Hatarik R, Kerr SM, Kilkenny J, Knauer JP. Neutron time of flight (nToF) detectors for inertial fusion experiments. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2023; 94:061102. [PMID: 37862497 DOI: 10.1063/5.0133655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Neutrons generated in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiments provide valuable information to interpret the conditions reached in the plasma. The neutron time-of-flight (nToF) technique is well suited for measuring the neutron energy spectrum due to the short time (100 ps) over which neutrons are typically emitted in ICF experiments. By locating detectors 10s of meters from the source, the neutron energy spectrum can be measured to high precision. We present a contextual review of the current state of the art in nToF detectors at ICF facilities in the United States, outlining the physics that can be measured, the detector technologies currently deployed and analysis techniques used.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A S Moore
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA
| | - D J Schlossberg
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA
| | - B D Appelbe
- Centre for Inertial Fusion Studies, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - G A Chandler
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
| | - A J Crilly
- Centre for Inertial Fusion Studies, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - M J Eckart
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA
| | - C J Forrest
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 E River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - V Y Glebov
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 E River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - G P Grim
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA
| | - E P Hartouni
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA
| | - R Hatarik
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA
| | - S M Kerr
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA
| | - J Kilkenny
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - J P Knauer
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 E River Rd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chandler GA, Ruiz CL, Cooper GW, Torres JA, Mangan MA, Whitlow GM, Ampleford DJ, Jones MC, Buckles RA, Moy KJ, Garza I, Staska M, Wolverton A, Davis B. Neutron time-of-flight detectors (nTOF) used at Sandia's Z-Machine. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2022; 93:113531. [PMID: 36461459 DOI: 10.1063/5.0101544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Neutron time-of-flight (nTOF) detectors have been used on Sandia National Laboratories' Z-Machine for inertial confinement fusion and magnetized liner fusion experiments to infer physics parameters including the apparent fuel-ion temperature, neutron yield, the magnetic-radius product (BR), and the liner rho-r. Single-paddle, dual-paddle, and co-axial scintillation nTOF detectors are used in axial lines-of-sight (LOS) and LOS that are 12° from the midplane. Detector fabrication, characterization, and calibration are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G A Chandler
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
| | - C L Ruiz
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
| | - G W Cooper
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
| | - J A Torres
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
| | - M A Mangan
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
| | - G M Whitlow
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
| | - D J Ampleford
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
| | - M C Jones
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
| | - R A Buckles
- National Nuclear Security Site, Las Vegas Operations, Las Vegas, Nevada 89030, USA
| | - K J Moy
- National Nuclear Security Site, Special Technologies Laboratory, Santa Barbara, California 93111, USA
| | - I Garza
- National Nuclear Security Site, Las Vegas Operations, Las Vegas, Nevada 89030, USA
| | - M Staska
- National Nuclear Security Site, Special Technologies Laboratory, Santa Barbara, California 93111, USA
| | - A Wolverton
- National Nuclear Security Site, Las Vegas Operations, Las Vegas, Nevada 89030, USA
| | - B Davis
- National Nuclear Security Site, Las Vegas Operations, Las Vegas, Nevada 89030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Weaver C, Cooper G, Perfetti C, Ampleford D, Chandler G, Knapp P, Mangan M, Styron J. A Forward Analytic Model of Neutron Time-of-Flight Signals for Inferring Ion Temperatures from MagLIF Experiments. FUSION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15361055.2021.1961540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Colin Weaver
- University of New Mexico, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Gary Cooper
- University of New Mexico, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Christopher Perfetti
- University of New Mexico, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - David Ampleford
- Sandia National Laboratories, Fusion Experiments Department, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Gordon Chandler
- Sandia National Laboratories, Fusion Experiments Department, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Patrick Knapp
- Sandia National Laboratories, Fusion Experiments Department, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Michael Mangan
- Sandia National Laboratories, Fusion Experiments Department, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Jedediah Styron
- University of New Mexico, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ruskov E, Glebov VY, Darling TW, Wessel FJ, Conti F, Valenzuela JC, Rahman HU, Beg FN. Gated liquid scintillator detector for neutron time of flight measurements in a gas-puff Z-pinch experiment. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2019; 90:073505. [PMID: 31370449 DOI: 10.1063/1.5090785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Detection of secondary D(t, n)4He neutrons produced when thin argon or krypton gas shells implode on a deuterium gas target is a very challenging task because the secondary neutron yield is a small fraction of the primary neutron yield and because the implosion is often accompanied by an intense hard X-ray burst. We built a large volume neutron time of flight (nTOF) detector using liquid scintillator (xylene solvent with small quantities of wavelength shifting PPO + bis-MSB fluors) in an attempt to increase the detection probability for secondary neutrons in our staged Z-pinch experiments at the 1 MA Zebra pulsed-power generator. Two fast, gated microchannel plate photomultiplier tubes detect the light created in 21 liters of liquid. The hard X-rays were successfully suppressed in the recorded nTOF traces, but we found no evidence of secondary neutrons. The signal quality from the primary D(d, n)3He neutrons was higher compared to the signal quality from a plastic scintillator nTOF, thus providing a more reliable estimate of the deuterium ion temperature at the pinch stagnation time. Cross-calibration with a silver activation detector enables standalone neutron yield measurement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Ruskov
- Magneto-Inertial Fusion Technologies, Inc., Tustin, California 92612, USA
| | - V Yu Glebov
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - T W Darling
- University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - F J Wessel
- L-Egant Solutions, LLC, Irvine, California 92606, USA
| | - F Conti
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - J C Valenzuela
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - H U Rahman
- Magneto-Inertial Fusion Technologies, Inc., Tustin, California 92612, USA
| | - F N Beg
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|