Measurements of D–D fusion neutrons generated in nanowire array laser plasma using Timepix3 detector

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2020.164680
• Publication Date: 2020-09-22T21:00:31Z
• Authors: Peter Rubovič; Aldo Bonasera; Petr Burian; Zhengxuan Cao; Changbo Fu; Defeng Kong; Haoyang Lan; Yao Lou; Wen Luo; Chong Lv; Yugang Ma; Wenjun Ma; Zhiguo Ma; Lukáš Meduna; Zhusong Mei; Yesid Mora; Zhuo Pan; Yinren Shou; Rudolf Sýkora; Martin Veselský; Pengjie Wang; Wenzhao Wang; Xueqing Yan; Guoqiang Zhang; Jiarui Zhao; Yanying Zhao; Jan Žemlička
• Keywords: Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors; D–D fusion; FOS: Physical sciences; Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det); Timepix3; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; Physics - Plasma Physics; Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph); neutron; nanowire; laser plasma; 0103 physical sciences; Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex); Nuclear Experiment

We present the results of neutron detection in a laser plasma experiment with a CD$_2$ nanowire target. A hybrid semiconductor pixel detector Timepix3 covered with neutron converters was used for the detection of neutrons. D-D fusion neutrons were detected in a polyethylene converter through recoiled protons. Both the energy of recoiled protons and the time-of-flight of neutrons (and thus their energy) were determined. We report $(2.4 \pm 1.8) \times 10^7$ neutrons generated for 1~J of incoming laser energy. Furthermore, we proved that Timepix3 is suitable for difficult operational conditions in laser experiments.<br/>pdflatex, accepted for publication in NIM A<br/>