Calculation of prompt doses induced by fusion experiments in Laser MegaJoule facility

Abstract

The Laser MegaJoule (LMJ), built at CEA/CESTA near Bordeaux, France, will conduct research in the field of plasma physics and inertial confinement fusion. Some of these experiments are designed to produce during less than one nanosecond up to 10 19 neutrons at 14 MeV in indirect drive mode. The 300 m long building that hosts both laser sources and target chamber was designed to confine neutron and gamma fluxes in the experiment hall during a shot. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using a TRIPOLI 4 modelling of the facility to ensure that prompt doses in occupied areas inside the facility that host employees during a shot will be sufficiently low. Although significant radiation levels inside the experiment hall, prompt doses in occupied rooms are limited to a few μSv per shot which is fully compatible with radiation level limits.