High-intensity lasers as radiation sources |
| |
Authors: | J Galy D J Hamilton and C Normand |
| |
Institution: | (1) EC-JRC Institute for Transuranium Elements, Postfach 2340, 76125 Karlsruhe, Germany;(2) Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK |
| |
Abstract: | In the last decade or so, an evolution in experimental relativistic laser-plasma physics has led to highly sophisticated lasers
which are now capable of generating ultra-short pulses and can be focused to intensities in excess of 1021 W cm-2. The laser interaction with solid or gas targets can generate collimated beams of highly energetic electrons, protons and
ions. These high-intensity laser systems, therefore, turn out to be versatile and powerful sources of radiation and high-energy
particles, without recourse to large-scale facilities such as nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. The potential to
induce various kinds of nuclear reactions with laser-induced radiation fields has been demonstrated at several laboratories
in recent years. The present paper lays out a comprehensive overview of nuclear reactions induced by high-intensity laser
matter interactions. Mechanisms for electron, proton and ion acceleration, in addition to secondary bremsstrahlung, positron
and neutron production, are addressed, with a focus on the types of nuclear reactions that are possible and potential applications.
Discussion of the extrapolation of these processes and applications to the next generation of table-top lasers under construction
is also presented. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|