مجله علوم و فنون هستهای (Feb 2016)
Simulation of Bremsstrahlung X-ray and photo-neutron generation via interaction of laser-produced electrons with solid targets
Abstract
In this paper, first, with bombardment of solid targets via spectra of electrons produced from the laser–plasma interaction, the created Bremsstrahlung X-ray is simulated using MCNPX code. Then, by the interaction of the produced photons with a secondary solid target, a simulation for the neutron generation is studied. The purpose of this work is to evaluate appropriate parameters of electron source and target to create photons and neutrons, more efficiently. Therefore, we are able to estimate the best conditions for the source and target, for instance, the optimum selection of the target material and its thickness, proper electron spectrum, and the optimum angle of photon emission so as to increase the efficiency of X-ray generation. This results in improved production of photo-neutron flux to be used in various applications such as medical uses. The results show that by increasing the electron peak energy, the optimum thickness and output efficiency are enhanced. Furthermore, for materials with higher density and atomic number, the increment of Bremsstrahlung photon emission, which occurs at smaller thicknesses, results in greater generation of neutron flux.
