Establishing a Laser-Driven Megaelectronvolt X-Ray and Neutron Radiographic Capability

Andrew Mackinnon | 19-SI-002

Executive Summary

We are studying the potential of lasers to produce megaelectronvolt sources for taking radiographs of large, dense objects, such as those produced during implosions driven by high explosives. Such a laser-driven facility could provide simultaneous neutron and x-ray radiography, opening up new diagnostic possibilities relevant to national stockpile stewardship efforts while reducing the number of stockpile stewardship experiments required.

Publications, Presentations, and Patents

Kemp, A., and S. Wilks, 2020. "Direct Electron Acceleration in Multi-Kilojoule, Multi-Picosecond Laser Pulses." Presentation to Laser-Driven Radiography Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, January 2020. LLNL-PRES-801117

Kerr, S. et al. 2020a. "Bringing relativistic laser applications to NIF-ARC using CPC targets." ERC Meeting (cancelled), Nov. 2020. LLNL-POST-804156

———2020b. "Development of bright MeV x-ray sources with compound parabolic concentrator targets on Petawatt Class lasers." 62nd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, November 2020. LLNL-ABS-814235

———2020c. "Enhanced laser-plasma coupling with CPC targets." International Conference on High Energy Density Science 2020, April 2020. LLNL-ABS-801559

Mackinnon, A. 2020a. "Development of bright MeV x-ray sources with compound parabolic concentrator targets on Petawatt Class lasers." 62nd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, November 2020. LLNL-ABS-811463

———2020b. "Enhanced laser-plasma interactions using non-imaging optical concentrator targets." Optica, 7, 129-130. doi:10.1364/OPTICA.375486. LLNL-JRNL-786638

Meezan, N. B., et al. 2020. "Developing 'inverted-corona' fusion targets as neutron sources." LLNL-PRES-793799