Measurement of the T+T Neutron Spectrum Using the National Ignition Facility

Neutron time-of-flight spectra from inertial confinement fusion experiments with tritium-filled targets have been measured at the National Ignition Facility. These spectra represent a significant improvement in energy resolution and statistics over previous measurements, and afford the first definit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Frenje, Johan A. (Contributor), Gatu Johnson, Maria (Contributor)
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Plasma Science and Fusion Center (Contributor)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society, 2013-10-16T13:09:09Z.
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Summary:Neutron time-of-flight spectra from inertial confinement fusion experiments with tritium-filled targets have been measured at the National Ignition Facility. These spectra represent a significant improvement in energy resolution and statistics over previous measurements, and afford the first definitive observation of a peak resulting from sequential decay through the ground state of [superscript 5]He at low reaction energies E[subscript c.m.]≲100  keV. To describe the spectrum, we have developed an R-matrix model that accounts for interferences from fermion symmetry and intermediate states, and show these effects to be non-negligible. We also find the spectrum can be described by sequential decay through ℓ=1 states in [superscript 5]He, which differs from previous interpretations.
Lawrence Livermore National Security (Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344)