Photonuclear physics when a multiterawatt laser pulse interacts with solid targets

Journal article

When a laser pulse of intensity 1019 W cm-2 interacts with solid targets, electrons of energies of some tens of MeV are produced. In a tantalum target, the electrons generate an intense highly directional γ-ray beam that can be used to carry out photonuclear reactions. The isotopes 11C, 38K, 62,64Cu, 63Zn, 106Ag, 140Pr, and 180Ta have been produced by (γ, n) reactions using the VULCAN laser beam. In addition, laser-induced nuclear fission in 238U has been demonstrated, a process which was theoretically predicted at such laser intensities more than ten years ago. The ratio of the 11C and the 62Cu β+ activities yields shot-by-shot temperatures of the suprathermal electrons at laser intensities of ∼1019 W cm-2.

Authors: Ledingham, K; Spencer, I; McCanny, T; Singhal, R; Santala, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 84
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 899-902
• Publication date: 2000-01-31
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.899
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Language: English