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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
08:22
Measurement of Ultrafast Vibrational Coherences in Polyatomic Radical Cations with Strong-Field Adiabatic Ionization
Published on: August 6, 2018
A gated alpha-particle time-of-flight spectrometer for laser-driven proton-boron fusion reactions
Xu-Yang Luo1, Wen-Qing Wei1, Jie-Ru Ren1
1Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Information and Quantum Optoelectronic Devices, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|July 13, 2026
Summary
A new gated scintillator spectrometer accurately measures alpha particle energy in harsh laser-plasma experiments. This diagnostic tool provides real-time nuclear reaction data, enhancing laser-driven fusion research.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Particle Detection
Background:
- Harsh radiation environments in laser-plasma experiments pose challenges for diagnosing nuclear reaction products.
- Existing diagnostic tools often struggle with intense background radiation, limiting real-time measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a gated scintillator-based alpha-particle time-of-flight (αTOF) spectrometer for real-time diagnosis in high-radiation environments.
- To enable accurate energy spectra and yield measurements of alpha particles from laser-driven nuclear reactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a fast-response EJ-204 plastic scintillator coupled with a gated microchannel plate photomultiplier tube.
- Employed a gating technique to suppress intense X/γ-ray and relativistic electron radiation backgrounds.
- Calibrated the system using proton and alpha-particle beams and validated it in laser-driven proton-boron fusion experiments.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated linear response efficiency with particle energy, consistent with ionization quenching models.
- Successfully resolved a distinct alpha-particle peak at 3.65 MeV from the 11B(p, α1)8Be* reaction.
- Achieved real-time, shot-to-shot acquisition of alpha-particle energy spectra in a high-radiation environment.
Conclusions:
- The developed αTOF spectrometer is a robust online diagnostic tool for laser-driven nuclear reaction studies.
- The system enables reliable measurement of alpha particles in challenging experimental conditions.
- Future work includes extending energy calibration and developing multiplexed systems for quantitative yield measurements.
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