Intense short pulse (n,x) reaction studies using ATHENA at NIF
Dr. Mike Febbraro
Air Force Institute of Technology
Understanding the production of radionuclei produced by intense short neutron pulse environments is important for nuclear science applications. In a short pulse high instantaneous neutron flux environment, these radionuclei are produced through an often-complex network of completing reaction channels which may occur not only on ground states but also excited states. Reconstruction of neutron energy spectra from fluence monitors require knowledge of these reaction networks to properly determine the neutron environment. The ATHENA experimental platform at NIF provides a unique capability for investigating these reaction networks through integral measurements under controlled laboratory conditions. At the heart of the ATHENA platform is an energy tuning assembly which modifies the DT thermonuclear NIF spectrum into a desired spectral shape. This results in a tunable neutron energy spectrum rather than monoenergetic neutrons from DT fusion alone. This talk will provide an overview of the experimental capabilities of the ATHENA platform as well as present recent integral nuclear data measurements performed at NIF and their connection to differential measurements performed at the University of Notre Dame.
Hosted by Dr. deBoer