Lasers and nuclei: applications of ultrahigh intensity lasers in nuclear science

A.B. Borisov, X. Song, P. Zhang, Y. Dai, K. Boyer, C.K. Rhodes (auth.), Heinrich Schwoerer, Burgard Beleites, Joseph Magill (eds.)3540302719, 9783540302728, 9783540302711

Lasers and Nuclei describes the generation of high-energy-particle radiation with high-intensity lasers and its application to nuclear science. A basic introduction to laser–matter interaction at high fields is complemented by detailed presentations of state of the art laser particle acceleration and elementary laser nuclear experiments. The text also discusses future applications of lasers in nuclear science, for example in nuclear astrophysics, isotope generation, nuclear fuel physics and proton and neutron imaging.

Table of contents :
Front Matter….Pages I-XIV
The Nuclear Era of Laser Interactions: New Milestones in the History of Power Compression….Pages 3-6
High-Intensity Laser–Matter Interaction….Pages 7-23
Laser-Triggered Nuclear Reactions….Pages 25-45
POLARIS: An All Diode-Pumped Ultrahigh Peak Power Laser for High Repetition Rates….Pages 47-66
The Megajoule Laser – A High-Energy-Density Physics Facility….Pages 67-77
Front Matter….Pages I-XIV
Electron and Proton Beams Produced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses….Pages 81-90
Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration and Nuclear Activation….Pages 91-107
Pulsed Neutron Sources with Tabletop Laser-Accelerated Protons….Pages 109-128
Front Matter….Pages I-XIV
Laser Transmutation of Nuclear Materials….Pages 131-146
High-brightness γ-Ray Generation for Nuclear Transmutation….Pages 147-167
Potential Role of Lasers for Sustainable Fission Energy Production and Transmutation of Nuclear Waste….Pages 169-189
High-Power Laser Production of PET Isotopes….Pages 191-203
Front Matter….Pages I-XIV
Nuclear Physics with High-Intensity Lasers….Pages 207-216
Nuclear Physics with Laser Compton γ-Rays….Pages 217-229
Status of Neutron Imaging….Pages 231-249