W. Lo | Searcharxiv

arXiv2023

Creation of super-high-flux photo-neutrons and gamma-rays > 8 MeV using a petawatt laser to irradiate high-Z solid targets

We report the creation of super-high-flux gamma-rays with energy >8 MeV and photo-neutrons via the (g,n) reaction near giant dipole resonance energies (8 - 20 MeV), using the ~130 J Texas Petawatt laser to irradiate high-Z (Au, Pt, Re, W) targets of mm - cm thickness, at laser intensities up to ~5x1021W/cm2. We detected up to ~ several x 1012 gamma-rays > 8 MeV (~3% of incident laser energy) and ~ 1010 photo-neutrons per shot. Due to the short pulse and narrow gamma-ray cone (~17o half-width) around laser forward, the peak emergent gamma-ray flux >8 MeV reached ~1027 gammas/cm2/sec, and the peak emergent neutron flux reached ~1020 neutrons/cm2/sec. Such intense gamma-ray and neutron fluxes are among the highest achieved for short-pulse laser experiments. They will facilitate the study of nuclear reactions requiring super-high-flux of gamma-rays or neutrons, such as the creation of r-process elements. These results may also have far-reaching applications for nuclear energy, such as the transmutation of nuclear waste, isotope production and inertial fusion.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv1999

Effects of carrier concentration on the superfluid density of high-T_c cuprates

The absolute values and temperature, T, dependence of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth, $λ_{ab}$, of La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4 and HgBa_2CuO_{4+δ} have been measured as a function of carrier concentration. We find that the superfluid density, $ρ_s$, changes substantially and systematically with doping. The values of $ρ_{s}(0)$ are closely linked to the available low energy spectral weight as determined by the electronic entropy just above T_c and the initial slope of $ρ_{s}(T)/ρ_{s}(0)$ increases rapidly with carrier concentration. The results are discussed in the context of a possible relationship between $ρ_s$ and the normal-state (or pseudo) energy gap.

cond-mat.supr-con↗