Solid-state Target Research Articles

Efficient extreme ultraviolet emission by multiple laser pulses

We demonstrated an efficient extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source at a wavelength of 13.5 nm using spatially separated multiple solid-state-laser pulse irradiation. The maximum conversion efficiency (CE) achieved was 3.8% for ±30° oblique laser pulse injection, which was about twice as high as that for single laser pulse irradiation of 1.7%, with an EUV source size of about 100 μm for two spatially separated laser pulses with a total laser energy of 500 mJ at a laser intensity of 2×1011 W/cm2. In addition, we achieved an EUV CE of 4.7% for ±60° oblique laser pulse injection, which was one of the highest values ever reported, in the case of a 1-μm solid-state laser-produced planar Sn target plasma by multiple laser pulse irradiation. This result suggests that multiple laser-pulse irradiation at high repetition rate operation could credibly provide the next technology for future high-power EUV sources and exposure tools toward future EUV technology nodes.

A method for delivering the required neutron fluence in an accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy system employing a lithium target

Accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems employing a solid-state lithium target indicated the reduction of neutron flux over the lifetime of a target, and its reduction could represent the neutron flux model. This study proposes a novel compensatory approach for delivering the required neutron fluence and validates its clinical applicability. The proposed approach relies on the neutron flux model and the cumulative sum of real-time measurements of proton charges. The accuracy of delivering the required neutron fluence for BNCT using the proposed approach was examined in five Li targets. With the proposed approach, the required neutron fluence could be delivered within 3.0%, and within 1.0% in most cases. However, those without using the proposed approach exceeded 3.0% in some cases. The proposed approach can consider the neutron flux reduction adequately and decrease the effect of uncertainty in neutron measurements. Therefore, the proposed approach can improve the accuracy of delivering the required fluence for BNCT even if a neutron flux reduction is expected during treatment and over the lifetime of the Li target. Additionally, by adequately revising the approach, it may apply to other type of BNCT systems employing a Li target, furthering research in this direction.

Generation and Filtering of Ultrashort Pulses When a Short Intense Laser Pulse is Reflected from Solid-State Targets

Generation and Filtering of Ultrashort Pulses When a Short Intense Laser Pulse is Reflected from Solid-State Targets

5D solid-state NMR spectroscopy for facilitated resonance assignment.

1H-detected solid-state NMR spectroscopy has been becoming increasingly popular for the characterization of protein structure, dynamics, and function. Recently, we showed that higher-dimensionality solid-state NMR spectroscopy can aid resonance assignments in large micro-crystalline protein targets to combat ambiguity (Klein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2022). However, assignments represent both, a time-limiting factor and one of the major practical disadvantages within solid-state NMR studies compared to other structural-biology techniques from a very general perspective. Here, we show that 5D solid-state NMR spectroscopy is not only justified for high-molecular-weight targets but will also be a realistic and practicable method to streamline resonance assignment in small to medium-sized protein targets, which such methodology might not have been expected to be of advantage for. Using a combination of non-uniform sampling and the signal separating algorithm for spectral reconstruction on a deuterated and proton back-exchanged micro-crystalline protein at fast magic-angle spinning, direct amide-to-amide correlations in five dimensions are obtained with competitive sensitivity compatible with common hardware and measurement time commitments. The self-sufficient backbone walks enable efficient assignment with very high confidence and can be combined with higher-dimensionality sidechain-to-backbone correlations from protonated preparations into minimal sets of experiments to be acquired for simultaneous backbone and sidechain assignment. The strategies present themselves as potent alternatives for efficient assignment compared to the traditional assignment approaches in 3D, avoiding user misassignments derived from ambiguity or loss of overview and facilitating automation. This will ease future access to NMR-based characterization for the typical solid-state NMR targets at fast MAS.

Relative biological effectiveness for epithermal neutron beam contaminated with fast neutrons in the linear accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy system coupled to a solid-state lithium target.

This study aimed to quantify the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for epithermal neutron beam contaminated with fast neutrons in the accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system coupled to a solid-state lithium target. The experiments were performed in National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH), Tokyo, Japan. Neutron irradiation with the system provided by Cancer Intelligence Care Systems (CICS), Inc. was performed. X-ray irradiation, which was assigned as the reference group, was also performed using a medical linear accelerator (LINAC) equipped in NCCH. The four cell lines (SAS, SCCVII, U87-MG and NB1RGB) were utilized to quantify RBE value for the neutron beam. Before both of those irradiations, all cells were collected and dispensed into vials. The doses of 10% cell surviving fraction (SF) (D10) were calculated by LQ model fitting. All cell experiments were conducted in triplicate at least. Because the system provides not only neutrons, but gamma-rays, the contribution from the gamma-rays to the survival fraction were subtracted in this study. D10 value of SAS, SCCVII, U87-MG and NB1RGB for the neutron beam was 4.26, 4.08, 5.81 and 2.72Gy, respectively, while that acquired by the X-ray irradiation was 6.34, 7.21, 7.12 and 5.49Gy, respectively. Comparison of both of the D10 values, RBE value of SAS, SCCVII, U87-MG and NB1RGB for the neutron beam was calculated as 1.7, 2.2, 1.3 and 2.5, respectively, and the average RBE value was 1.9. This study investigated RBE of the epithermal neutron beam contaminated with fast neutrons in the accelerator-based BNCT system coupled to a solid-state lithium target.

Manipulation of spin-1 solid-state targets

The spin-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lineshape for polycrystalline materials can be manipulated with selective radio frequency (RF) to alter the overlapping absorption lines in a dynamically polarized target. This process can be performed in solid-state targets either in a frozen spin state or during continuous microwave pumping to manipulate the vector and tensor polarizations of the spin-1 target. In this paper, we present an analytical description of the spin energy levels responsible for the dynamics in the continuous wave NMR spectrum under RF, as well as a new simplified analysis of the lineshape itself that relies on three basic conditions. These conditions can be used to measure the vector and tensor polarization in an RF-manipulated signal in real-time or to simulate the spin-1 NMR lineshape’s response to locally applied RF irradiation. The analytical description of the RF-manipulated lineshape as well as the resulting simulations can be used to optimize the figure of merit in high-energy and nuclear scattering experiments using spin-1 solid-state targets.

Эмиссионные характеристики лазерно-плазменного источника экстремального ультрафиолетового излучения с тонкопленочными мишенями

The radiation spectra in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet wavelength ranges of thin-film (0.15 microns thick) targets made of light materials (Si, C, Be) were studied when excited by a Nd:YAG laser pulse with a duration of 5.2 ns focused to an intensity of ~10^12 W/cm^2. Line spectra of BeIII, BeIV, CV, and SiV ions were recorded using a spectrometer based on a multilayer X-ray mirror. A comparison with the spectra of bulk solid-state targets of the same materials is carried out. In all cases, there was a decrease in the intensity of the lines of the soft X-ray spectrum of film targets compared to monolithic ones; the decrease was, depending on the material, from several tens of percent to several times, with more than an order of magnitude less mass of the vaporized substance.

QED effects at grazing incidence on solid-state targets

New laser facilities will reach intensities of 10^{23} text {W cm}^{-2}. This advance enables novel experimental setups in the study of laser–plasma interaction. In these setups with extreme fields, quantum electrodynamic (QED) effects such as photon emission via nonlinear Compton scattering and Breit–Wheeler pair production become important. We study high-intensity lasers grazing the surface of a solid-state target by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations with QED effects included. The two laser beams collide at the target surface at a grazing angle. Due to the fields near the target surface, electrons are extracted and accelerated. Finally, the extracted electrons collide with the counter-propagating laser, which triggers many QED effects and leads to a QED cascade under a sufficient laser intensity. Here, the processes are studied for various laser intensities and angle of incidence and finally compared with a seeded vacuum cascade. Our results show that the proposed target can yield many orders of magnitude more secondary particles and develop a QED cascade at lower laser intensities than the seeded vacuum alone.

The Selena Neutrino Experiment

Imaging sensors made from an ionization target layer of amorphous selenium (aSe) coupled to a silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel array for charge readout are a promising technology for neutrino physics. The high spatial resolution in a solid-state target provides unparalleled rejection of backgrounds from natural radioactivity in the search for neutrinoless ββ decay and for solar neutrino spectroscopy with 82Se. We present results on the ionization response of aSe measured from the photoabsorption of 122 keV γ rays in a single-pixel device. We report on the progress in the fabrication and testing of the first prototype imaging sensors based on the Topmetal II − pixelated CMOS charge readout chip. We explore the scientific reach of a large neutrino detector with the proposed technology based on our experimental understanding of the sensor performance.

On fusion chain reactions in 11B targets for laser driven aneutronic fusion

The work presented in this letter suggests that it is possible to enhance the yield in laser driven aneutronic fusion devices by fusion chain reactions. This mechanism will be described using the example of aneutronic fusion between an incoming high-energy proton beam and a 11B target. Such fusion reactions create alphas that can again fuse with a 11B particle in a dense solid state target. An improved target design will be shown that enhances the recycling of fast alpha particles that are created from fusion reactions. It will also be argued that such alpha recycling may have already been observed in experiments, although it was attributed to another, more complex physical mechanism.

Efficiency improvement of the femtosecond laser source of superponderomotive electrons and X-ray radiation due to the use of near-critical density targets

We consider the possibility of improving the superhigh-power laser pulse to superponderomotive electrons energy conversion efficiency by using porous targets of near-critical density. We report the results of numerical simulations based on the typical parameters of laser pulses of the PEARL laser facility built on the principles of parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA). An original scheme for producing a controllable prepulse based on the use of a pump laser switched to a two-pulse regime is discussed. The prepulse is required to homogenise the submicron inhomogeneities of a porous target. Simulations show a significant increase in the laser-to-electron energy conversion efficiency in comparison with solid-state and gas targets. This interaction regime can be used to improve the efficiency of a broad class of laser-driven secondary radiation sources, such as a betatron source, bremsstrahlung, neutron source, etc.

Polarization Transfer to External Nuclear Spins Using Ensembles of Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre in diamond has emerged as a candidate to non-invasively hyperpolarise nuclear spins in molecular systems to improve the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Several promising proof of principle experiments have demonstrated small-scale polarisation transfer from single NVs to hydrogen spins outside the diamond. However, the scaling up of these results to the use of a dense NV ensemble, which is a necessary prerequisite for achieving realistic NMR sensitivity enhancement, has not yet been demonstrated. In this work, we present evidence for a polarising interaction between a shallow NV ensemble and external nuclear targets over a micrometre scale, and characterise the challenges in achieving useful polarisation enhancement. In the most favourable example of the interaction with hydrogen in a solid state target, a maximum polarisation transfer rate of $\approx 7500$ spins per second per NV is measured, averaged over an area containing order $10^6$ NVs. Reduced levels of polarisation efficiency are found for liquid state targets, where molecular diffusion limits the transfer. Through analysis via a theoretical model, we find that our results suggest implementation of this technique for NMR sensitivity enhancement is feasible following realistic diamond material improvements.

Neutron flux evaluation model provided in the accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy system employing a solid-state lithium target

An accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system employing a solid-state Li target can achieve sufficient neutron flux for treatment although the neutron flux is reduced over the lifetime of its target. In this study, the reduction was examined in the five targets, and a model was then established to represent the neutron flux. In each target, a reduction in neutron flux was observed based on the integrated proton charge on the target, and its reduction reached 28% after the integrated proton charge of 2.52 × 106 mC was delivered to the target in the system. The calculated neutron flux acquired by the model was compared to the measured neutron flux based on an integrated proton charge, and the mean discrepancies were less than 0.1% in all the targets investigated. These discrepancies were comparable among the five targets examined. Thus, the reduction of the neutron flux can be represented by the model. Additionally, by adequately revising the model, it may be applicable to other BNCT systems employing a Li target, thus furthering research in this direction. Therefore, the established model will play an important role in the accelerator-based BNCT system with a solid-state Li target in controlling neutron delivery and understanding the neutron output characteristics.

Experimental Study of the Interaction of a Laser Plasma Flow with a Transverse Magnetic Field

We present the results of studying experimentally the expansion of laser plasma in a strong external magnetic field (with a magnetic flux density of 13.5 T) at various sizes of the region of plasma formation on the surface of a solid-state target. It is shown that when the size of the plasma formation region is smaller than the classical plasma braking radius, a nearly identical topology of plasma flows is observed, which is characterized by the formation of a thin plasma sheet directed along the external magnetic field. If the width of the plasma formation region is comparable with the classical plasma braking radius, an additional plasma sheet starts to be formed.

A Method of Signal Transmission in Conditions of a High Level of Interference from a Powerful Plasma Installation

The problem of signal transmission in experimental installations is of particular importance for plasma physics due to the characteristic powerful impulse noise caused by the operation of power equipment. This article describes a filter based on a broadband in-phase transformer designed to transmit signals at the KI-1 solar plasma simulation facility of the Institute of Laser Physics, SB, RAS. The parameters of the plasma produced by exposure to a pulse of powerful CO2-laser to a solid-state target, sharply differ from the plasma parameters of confinement installations, which makes the known methods of signal transmission based on classical transformers and optocouplers unacceptable. The presence of X-rays also imposes restrictions on the use of fiber optic solutions.

Local electrochemical deposition of thorium-229 targets and excitation of isomeric state by electron beam

The results of the study of local formation of thin-film coatings based on thorium oxide on SiO2/Si(111) surfaces by electrochemical deposition. It is shown that as a result of electrochemical deposition of thorium atoms from an acetone solution of Th(NO3)4 with the presence of water on the silicon surface, local formation of thorium compounds occurs. Chemical analysis of the composition of the samples obtained by XPS showed the presence of compounds based on thorium, silicon, oxygen and carbon. It is shown that annealing for 6 hours at 600? C in the atmosphere leads to the departure of carbon, and the formed film consists only of thorium and oxygen. It is shown that such a system can be promising for further studies of the nuclear low-lying isomer transition in the 229Th isotope under electron beam irradiation. The method of excitation of isomeric thorium-229 nuclei by irradiation of a solid-state target based on thorium silicate with an electron beam is considered. The process of generating secondary electrons with a significant increase in the multiplication coefficient for electrons with energies in the range from 1 keV to 25 keV is considered. The values of the output function of isomeric nuclei and the excitation cross section of an isomeric transition in inelastic scattering are obtained on the basis of numerical modeling and theoretical estimation.

Local Electrochemical Deposition of Nuclear Materials as a Method for Creating Miniature Solid-State Targets for Precision Measurements

The results of a study of the local formation of thorium oxide-based coatings on the SiO2/Si (111) surface during electrochemical deposition are presented. It was experimentally found that as a result of electrochemical deposition of thorium atoms from an acetone solution of Th(NO3)4 with the presence of water on the silicon surface, local formation of thorium compounds occurs. The results of the analysis of the chemical composition of the surface by the method of local XPS analysis show that these compounds are those based on thorium, silicon, oxygen, and carbon. After annealing for 6 h at 600°C in atmosphere, carbon completely disappears, and the formed cluster film seemingly consists only of thorium and oxygen. It is shown that this system is promising for future research on nuclear low-lying isomeric transition in the 229Th isotope under electron beam irradiation.

Construction of the Gaseous and Solid-State Targets for the Muon Capture Measuring System in 130Xe, 82Kr, and 24Mg

The description of the muon capture system units with different targets (gas and solid-state) is presented. Using the muon-event selection system and high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors, precise measurements of the time-energy distributions following ordinary muon capture in the isotopically-enriched $^{130}$Xe, $^{82}$Kr, and $^{24}$Mg nuclei were performed. The optimal parameters of the muon capture measuring system to ensure maximum muon stops in the targets under study and to collect effective statistics during measurements are reported. The system makes it possible to separate muonic X-ray events from gamma radiation with high accuracy, which is critical in such studies, and it is also suitable for future measurements with other targets.

Ultrafast electron and proton bunches correlation in laser-solid matter experiments.

The interaction of an ultra-intense laser with a solid state target allows the production of multi-MeV proton and ion beams. This process is explained by the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) model, predicting the creation of an electric field on the target rear side, due to an unbalanced positive charge. This process is related to the emission of relativistic ultrafast electrons, occurring at an earlier time. In this work, we highlight the correlations between the ultrafast electron component and the protons by their simultaneous detection by means of an electro-optical sampling and a time-of-flight diagnostics, respectively, supported by numerical simulations showing an excellent agreement.

Enhanced tensor polarization in solid-state targets

We report measurements of enhanced tensor polarization on solid-state targets. The results here represent an increase in tensor polarization over that previously achieved in high energy and nuclear scattering experiments that focused on the measurement of tensor polarized observables. Enhancement techniques are used which require RF produced close to the Larmor frequency of the target spins and use selective semi-saturation resulting from two sources of irradiation, microwave for the DNP process and the additional RF used to manipulate the population of the energy levels in the target material. The spin dynamics of the solid target are used to align the spins enhancing the ensemble average to improve the figure of merit of the scattering experiment. Target rotation at an optimized rate can lead to additional enhancement by applying selective semi-saturation in polycrystalline materials that possess a Pake doublet in their NMR signal.