Sarah Thompson, SUNY Geneseo

Title: The Associated Particle Method

Authors: S. Thompson, B. Schwartz, K. Fletcher, S. Padalino (SUNY Geneseo)

Abstract: The Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester is investigating laser induced Inertial Confinement Fusion.  In order to understand the dynamics of the fusion plasma process, LLE uses calibrated neutron detectors to determine the neutron yield produced by DD and DT thermonuclear reactions. Geneseo’s Nuclear Structure Laboratory (GNSL), has undertaken the calibration of these detectors for LLE.  By using the associated particle method, the energy response and the efficiency of the detectors has been determined.  The associated particle method uses the nuclear reaction d(d,n)3He @ 300 and 500 keV  to produce 3He particles and neutrons which are measured in coincidence.  The d(d,n)3He reaction was created using GNSL’s two million volt Van de Graaff accelerator.  By comparing the number coincident counts detected between the neutron detector and the counts detected by the charged particle detector, the efficiency of the neutron detectors was determined.  Since the energy of the neutrons produced by d(d,n)3He is strictly dictated by energy and momentum conservation laws, the response of the neutron detector was also determined by investigating.

*Funded in part by the Department of Energy