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Effect of nuclear fuel composition on neutrons yield in high-energy-density plasma

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Abstract

Neutron production in high-energy-density plasma is an interesting topic for developing thermonuclear sources of neutrons and hybrid reactors. The promising candidate reactions for thermonuclear fusion (thermonuclear sources of neutrons) are T(d, n)4He and D(d, n)3He (D‑T and D‑D reactions). As T is a radioactive material, fusion experiments in all over the world deal with the D‑D reaction by using nuclear fuel in the form of plastic material such as CD or CD2. Consequently, reactions of deuterium and carbon effectively participate in the neutron yield. In this work, the neutrons flux of the nuclear reactions D(d, n)3He and D(12c, n)13N were simulated using the MCUNED Code in high-energy-density plasma produced by an ultra-high-power laser. Neutrons have been produced using nuclear fuels D2, CD, and CD2. Neutron flux has been calculated per kW of the laser energy expended in the fuel. Deuteron and proton fluxes have been calculated under the same energy conditions. The obtained data for the reactions D(d, n)3He and D(12c, n)13N were compared with each other and with the available experimental data. A computer program, NJOY, has been used to calculate cross section in Acer format to be used by MCUNED. The neutrons flux peak was increased inside the source and magnet cells for CD and CD2 due to adding carbon to the deuterium fuel. These values were decreased in the cells outside the source. The total neutron yields were approximately the same for D2, CD, and CD2 fuels in the air cells outside the source.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Sonia M. Reda, Dalia Anwar & Emad I. Khalil

  2. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt

    Ahmed Youssef

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  1. Sonia M. Reda
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  2. Dalia Anwar
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  3. Emad I. Khalil
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  4. Ahmed Youssef
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Correspondence to Sonia M. Reda.

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Reda, S.M., Anwar, D., Khalil, E.I. et al. Effect of nuclear fuel composition on neutrons yield in high-energy-density plasma. At Energy 134, 254–263 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-024-01053-3

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