High-energy Laser-accelerated Electron Beans for Long-range Interrogation

Authors

Nathaniel Cunningham, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Sudeep Banerjee, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Viswanathan Ramanathan, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Nathan D. Powers, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Nathan A. Chandler-Smith, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Randy Vane, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryFollow
David Schultz, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryFollow
Sara Pozzi, University of Michigan - Ann ArborFollow
Shaun Clark, University of Michigan - Ann ArborFollow
James Beene, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryFollow
Donald Umstadter, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2009

Citation

Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry: 20th International Conference, 2009.

Comments

Copyright 2009 American Institute of Physics. Used by permission.

Abstract

We are studying the use of 0.1 - 1.0 GeV laser-accelerated electron beams as active interrogation probes for long-standoff radiography or nuclear activation of concealed special nuclear material. Use of beams in this energy range is largely unexplored, but such beams could provide notable advantages over lower-energy beams and x-rays. High-energy laser-accelerated electrons exhibit large penetration range through air and solids, and low beam divergence for both direct beams and secondary Bremsstrahlung x-rays. We present laboratory measurements of radiography and activation using the high power Diocles laser system at the University of Nebraska, as well as MCNP and GEANT Monte Carlo simulation results used to aid experiment design and interpretation.