Nuclear Science Experiments at the University of Rochester’s Omega Laser Facility
Dr. Chad Forrest
Research Scientist
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
University of Rochester
High-energy-density-physics (HEDP) plasmas provide a unique platform for exploring nuclear science and astrophysics. The kJ-class OMEGA Laser Facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) has the capability to create HEDP plasmas with conditions similar to stellar interiors, enabling studies of reactions relevant to stellar nucleosynthesis (SN) and Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), as well as the generation of bright monoenergetic fusion neutron sources to induce the breakup of light-Z nuclei. In addition, recent experiments have demonstrated nuclear reactions initiated by laser-accelerated deuterons and tritons incident on solid targets using the OMEGA EP laser. Laser-driven ion acceleration provides a pathway for generating radioactive tritium beams that are currently unavailable at conventional accelerator facilities. However, key challenges include minimizing the acceleration of parasitic protons originating from thin surface contamination layers and producing a repeatable, high-yield monoenergetic ion source. Several experimental campaigns that have taken place and are planned to improve the generation of controllable tritium beams using laser-driven target-normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) will be discussed. [Sch22] These ongoing investigations will inform future experiments at existing and proposed petawatt-class facilities, including the proposed NSF OPAL facility.
This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy [National Nuclear Security Administration] University of Rochester “National Inertial Confinement Fusion Program” under Award Number(s) DE-NA0004144.
References:
[Sch22] A. Schwemmlein et al: “First Demonstration of a Triton Beam Using Target Normal Sheath Acceleration”, Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research B 522 (2022)
Hosted by Prof. Aprahamian
Zoom link: https://notredame.zoom.us/j/99165675577.