[en] The generation of coherent electromagnetic radiation by the interaction of a relativistic electron beam with a static helical magnetic field is investigated using one- and two-dimensional relativistic electromagnetic plasma simulation codes. In the one-dimensional simulations, we observed the coupling between the negative energy beam mode and the positive energy electromagnetic wave. Substantial growth rate (omega₁ approx. 0.1 omega/sub pe/) of the unstable electromagnetic wave has been observed and efficiency of radiation production is found to be between 25 to 30% depending on various parameters. In the two-dimensional simulations, we observed a decrease in the growth rate, but increased efficiency due to the decrease in the phase velocity of the unstable electrostatic wave. In addition, we also observed waves propagating at an angle with respect to the electron beam. Consequently, the beam is bunched in the radial as well as the axial directions. These waves are believed to be generated by another instability which saturates at relatively low level

[en] An integrated simulation capability is being developed to examine the fidelity of a dynamic radiographic system. This capability consists of a suite of simulation codes which individually model electromagnetic and particle transport phenomena and are chained together to model an entire radiographic event. Our study showed that the electron beam spot size at the converter target plays the key role in determining material edge locations. The angular spectrum is a relatively insensitive factor in radiographic fidelity. We also found that the full energy spectrum of the imaging photons must be modeled to obtain an accurate analysis of material densities

[en] Developing mice were exposed to tritium in body water continuously from conception to 14 days after birth. Concentrations close to 1, 3, 6, and 9 μCi/ml were maintained by giving mothers ³HOH in their drinking water throughout pregnancy and the first 2 weeks of lactation. When the offspring were 14 days old, primary oocytes in their ovaries were counted microscopically and compared with controls. Confirming earlier findings, survival of these cells decreased exponentially with exposure; there was no threshold; the LD₅₀ level was 2 μCi/ml, delivering 0.44 rad/day. For comparison, oocytes were similarly enumerated in mice continuously exposed for the same period to ⁶⁰Co gamma rays at 1, 2.1, and 3.2 rad/day. Cell killing in this case was not as great. Nor was it exponential; lower doses showed decreasing effectiveness. The data were in general accord with the linear--quadratic dose relation of the theory of dual radiation action. The effective LD₅₀ level for gamma rays was about 1.1 rad/day. Owing to these differences in dose--response, the RBE (relative biological effectiveness) of tritium compared to gamma radiation, as measured here in the intact animal, varied inversely with dose. At effective gamma-ray doses of some 40 rad, it was about 1.6. However, at lower exposure levels, giving effective doses of only a few rads, the RBE of tritium rises to approximately 3. This is of special interest from the standpoint of health and environmental protection

[en] This is the final report of a one-year, Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The objective of this project was to develop a validated end-to-end radiographic model that could be applied to both x-rays and protons. The specific objectives were to link hydrodynamic, transport, and magneto-hydrodynamic simulation software for purposes of modeling radiographic systems. In addition, optimization and analysis algorithms were to be developed to validate physical models and optimize the design of radiographic facilities

[en] The free electron laser with a static guide magnetic field has been investigated theoretically and by computer simulation using a fully relativistic electromagnetic particle code which has one spatial and three velocity dimensions. By passing a relativistic electron beam through a helical magnetic field, high frequency electromagnetic radiation is generated by its coupling to the negative energy electrostatic beam modes through the helical magnetic field. In the regime of strong guide field where Ω/sub c/e/γ>>k₀v/sub 0z/, the dispersion relation is obtained by using a fluid model for the electron beam and the growth rates are solved for numerically. Reasonable agreement between the theory and the simulations has been obtained. It was found that the growth rate increases linearly with magnetic ripple strength but decreases with the strength of the guide field. In addition, the growth rates also increase slightly with the beam energy. For a reasonably strong guide field (e.g., Ω/sub c/e=6.0ω/sub p/e), the growth rate can be on the order of 0.1ω/sub p/e and the efficiency of radiation production has been found to be as high as 16%. However, the efficiency decreases with the strength of the guide field. A theory for the saturation level is developed which relates the efficiency to the continued growth of the electromagnetic wave after the onset of trapping by the electrostatic field. It is found that the growth continues for about one bounce time and the observed saturation levels are reasonably well explained

[en] A 1 μs pulse-length, high-current relativistic klystron is being developed with a desired peak output power of 1 GW at 1.3 GHz. The tube consists of an input cavity, a single idler cavity, and an output cavity. Power levels as high as 475 MW have been experimentally observed. Current experimental results are presented. Physics and engineering issues affecting klystron performance are discussed

[en] The authors present data from a series of diagnostics operating on the ITS linear induction accelerator at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Using interferometry, both at optical and microwave frequencies, they are able to characterize the temporal evolution of the plasma parameters when material is ejected from various targets. Concurrent streak camera measurements of X-ray spotsize and faraday cup measurements of ions are also presented, and the interaction of plasma with the electron beam is discussed. Computer modeling of the interaction between targets and the electron beam is presented and discussed in light of the experimental results

[en] Experiments at the LANL Trident facility demonstrated the production of monoenergetic ion beams from the interaction of an ultraintense laser with a target comprising a heavy ion substrate and thin layer of light ions. An analytic model is obtained that predicts how the mean energy and quality of monoenergetic ion beams and the energy of substrate ions vary with substrate material and light-ion layer composition and thickness. Dimensionless parameters controlling the dynamics are derived and the model is validated with particle-in-cell simulations and experimental data

[en] A new laser-driven ion acceleration mechanism using ultrathin targets has been identified from particle-in-cell simulations. After a brief period of target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) [S. P. Hatchett et al., Phys. Plasmas 7, 2076 (2000)], two distinct stages follow: first, a period of enhanced TNSA during which the cold electron background converts entirely to hot electrons, and second, the ''laser breakout afterburner'' (BOA) when the laser penetrates to the rear of the target where a localized longitudinal electric field is generated with the location of the peak field co-moving with the ions. During this process, a relativistic electron beam is produced by the ponderomotive drive of the laser. This beam is unstable to a relativistic Buneman instability, which rapidly converts the electron energy into ion energy. This mechanism accelerates ions to much higher energies using laser intensities comparable to earlier TNSA experiments. At a laser intensity of 10²¹ W/cm², the carbon ions accelerate as a quasimonoenergetic bunch to 100 s of MeV in the early stages of the BOA with conversion efficiency of order a few percent. Both are an order of magnitude higher than those realized from TNSA in recent experiments [Hegelich et al., Nature 441, 439 (2006)]. The laser-plasma interaction then evolves to produce a quasithermal energy distribution with maximum energy of ∼2 GeV

[en] A new laser-driven ion acceleration mechanism has been identified in particle-in-cell simulations of high-contrast-ratio ultraintense lasers with very thin (10 s of nm) solid targets [Yin et al., Laser and Particle Beams 24, 291 (2006); Yin et al., Phys. Plasmas 13, 072701 (2007)]. After a brief period of target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA), 'enhanced' TNSA follows. In this stage, the laser rapidly heats all the electrons in the target as the target thickness becomes comparable to the skin depth and enhanced acceleration of the ions results. Then, concomitant with the laser penetrating the target, a large accelerating longitudinal electric field is generated that co-moves with the ions. This last phase has been termed the laser 'breakout afterburner' (BOA). Earlier work suggested that the BOA was associated with the Buneman instability that efficiently converts energy from the drift of the electrons into the ions. In this Brief Communication, this conjecture is found to be consistent with particle-in-cell simulation data and the analytic dispersion relation for the relativistic Buneman instability