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At least 109 records · Page 6

High-energy-density plasma in femtosecond-laser-irradiated nanowire-array targets for nuclear reactions

In this work, the high-energy-density plasmas (HEDP) evolved from joule-class-femtosecond-laser-irradiated nanowire-array (NWA) targets were numerically and experimentally studied. The results of particle-in-cell simulations indicate that ions accelerated in the sheath field around the surfaces of the nanowires are eventually confined in a plasma, contributing most to the high energy densities. The protons emitted from the front surfaces of the NWA targets provide rich information about the interactions that occur. We give the electron and ion energy densities for broad target parameter ranges. The ion energy densities from NWA targets were found to be an order of magnitude higher than those from planar targets, and the volume of the HEDP was several-fold greater. At optimal target parameters, 8% of the laser energy can be converted to confined protons, and this results in ion energy densities at the GJ/cm 3 level. In the experiments, the measured energy of the emitted protons reached 4 MeV, and the changes in energy with the NWA’s parameters were found to fit the simulation results well. Experimental measurements of neutrons from 2 H(d,n) 3 He fusion with a yield of (24 ± 18) × 10 6 /J from deuterated polyethylene NWA targets also confirmed these results.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Glauber-theory analysis of nuclear reactions on a 12 C target with variational Monte Carlo wave functions

The application of Glauber theory has been playing an increasingly important role with the study of unstable or exotic nuclei. Its adaptation to medium and high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions is severely limited because one has to evaluate the matrix elements of multiple-scattering operators. The extraction of physical observables has been done using ‘approximate’ Glauber theory whose validity is hard to evaluate. Here, we perform a full calculation of the matrix elements using Monte Carlo integration and analyze the elastic differential cross sections and the total reaction cross sections for p+¹²C, ⁴,⁶He+¹²C, and ¹²C+¹²C collisions. We use the variational Monte Carlo wave functions for ⁴,⁶He and ¹²C obtained by using realistic two- and three-nucleon potentials. We demonstrate the performance of the Glauber-theory calculations by comparing with available experimental data. We further discuss the accuracy of the conventional approximate methods in the light of the cumulant expansion for Glauber’s phase-shift function.

Horiuchi, W. [Osaka Metropolitan University (Japan↗

Neural Networks for Nuclear Reactions in MAESTROeX

We demonstrate the use of neural networks to accelerate the reaction steps in the MAESTROeX stellar hydrodynamics code. A traditional MAESTROeX simulation uses a stiff ODE integrator for the reactions; here, we employ a ResNet architecture and describe details relating to the architecture, training, and validation of our networks. Our customized approach includes options for the form of the loss functions, a demonstration that the use of parallel neural networks leads to increased accuracy, and a description of a perturbational approach in the training step that robustifies the model. We test our approach on millimeter-scale flames using a single-step, 3-isotope network describing the first stages of carbon fusion occurring in Type Ia supernovae. We train the neural networks using simulation data from a standard MAESTROeX simulation, and show that the resulting model can be effectively applied to different flame configurations. This work lays the groundwork for more complex networks, and iterative time-integration strategies that can leverage the efficiency of the neural networks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Cyclotron production of I-123: An evaluation of the nuclear reactions which produce this isotope

The reactions studied which produce I-123 directly were Sb-121(He-4,2n) I-123, Sb-121(He-3,n) I-123, Te-122(d,n) I-123, Te-122(He-4,p2n) I-123, Te-122(He-3,pn) I-123, and Te-123(He-3,p2n) I-123. Reactions which produce I-123 indirectly through the positron decay of 2.1-hour Xe-123 were Te-122(He-4,3n) Xe-123, Te-122(He-3,2n) Xe-123 and Te-123(He-3,3n) Xe-123. Use of the gas flow I-123 cyclotron target assembly is recommended for the production of I-123 with radiochemical purity greater than 99.995%.

Sodd, V. J.↗

A study of heavy-heavy nuclear reactions

Calculations are presented for the reaction products in high energy collisions and of the atmospheric transport of particles such as protons, neutrons and other nucleons. The magnetic moments of charmed baryons are examined. Total cross sections which are required for cosmic heavy ion transport and shielding studies are also examined.

Khandelwal, G. S.↗

A study of heavy-heavy nuclear reactions

A simplified theory for heavy ion scattering shows good agreement with heavy ion absorption experiments. Theoretical implications on the complete coupled channel reaction equations are discussed.

Khandelwal, G. S.↗

Nuclear reactions in shock wave front during supernova events

The new unique isotopic anomalous coponent of Xe(XeX) was found in the carbonaceous chondrites. It is enriched in light shielded isotopes (124Xe and 126Xe) and in heavy nonshielded isotopes (134Xe and 136Xe. All characteristics of Xe-X can be explained by a model of nucleosynthesis of the Xe isotopes in shock wave front passed through the He envelope during supernova events. The light isotopes are created by p process and the heavy isotopes are created by n process (slow r process). They were captured with high temperature carbon grains condensing by supernova shock waves.

Lavrukhina, A. K.↗

On modelling nuclear reactions in meteorites

An original method of experimental modeling depth distribution of radionuclides in sphere thick targets irradiated by protons in 4(pi)-geometry on JINR (Dubna) synchrocyclotron is described. Some results are presented.

Ustinova, G. K.↗