Modeling of direct conversion of the uranium fission product kinetic energy to laser radiation energy in an argon–xenon dusty plasma with uranium nanoparticles

Abstract

The process of direct conversion of the uranium fission product kinetic energy to laser radiation (LR) energy in a moving argon–xenon laser-active gas medium containing uranium nanoparticles has been investigated.A model and a method have been developed to solve numerically equations for the model of direct uranium fission product kinetic energy conversion to laser radiation energy in such medium. Spatiotemporal evolutions of the uranium nanoparticle concentration distribution have been calculated for different gas flow velocities and uranium nanoparticle sizes.Kinetic processes in a moving argon–xenon laser-active gas medium containing uranium nanoparticles have been studied.It is the first time that amplifying properties of a laser-active spatially heterogeneous nuclear-excited moving argon–xenon medium, containing uranium nanoparticles and irradiated by neutrons, have been studied. As shown by the investigation results, the LR intensity amplification may be sevenfold and more in steady-state conditions. Such a high value makes it possible to state that this medium can be used not only in a nuclear-pumped laser but also in the mode of a single-pass nuclear-pumped laser amplifier.