RADIATION DOSE MEASUREMENTS FOR HIGH-INTENSITY LASER INTERACTIONS WITH SOLID TARGETS AT SLAC

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Nuclear Physics
• Plasma Physics

Background:

• High-intensity laser-solid interactions generate significant photon and neutron radiation.
• Understanding radiation doses is crucial for safety and experimental design in such facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically study and quantify photon and neutron radiation doses.
• To characterize radiation fields produced in laser-driven experiments at SLAC MEC.

Main Methods:

• Experiments conducted at SLAC MEC using a 25 TW femtosecond pulsed Ti:sapphire laser.
• Radiation dose measurements performed with passive and active detectors.
• Detector placement at various locations within and outside the target chamber.

Main Results:

• Detailed results of radiation dose measurements from 2014 experiments are presented.
• Data covers peak laser intensities ranging from 10^18 to 7.1 x 10^19 W cm^-2.
• Analysis of photon and neutron radiation levels under specific experimental conditions.

Conclusions:

• The study provides essential data on radiation generation in high-intensity laser-solid interactions.
• Findings contribute to radiation safety protocols and future experimental planning.
• Establishes a baseline for understanding radiation environments at facilities like SLAC MEC.