Kevin Bruce Morley

An 800-MeV proton radiography facility for dynamic experiments

The capability has been successfully developed at the Los Alamos Nuclear Science Center (LANSCE) to utilize a spatially and temporally prepared 800-MeV proton beam to produce proton radiographs. A series of proton bursts are transmitted through a dynamically varying object and transported, via a unique magnetic lens system, to an image plane. The magnetic lens system permits correcting for the effects of multiple coulomb scattering which would otherwise completely blur the spatially transmitted information at the image plane. The proton radiographs are recorded on either a time integrating film plate or with a recently developed multi-frame electronic imaging camera system. The latter technique permits obtaining a time dependent series of proton radiographs with time intervals (modulo 358 ns) up to many microseconds and variable time intervals between images. One electronically shuttered, intensified, CCD camera is required per image. These cameras can detect single protons interacting with a scintillating fiber optic array in the image plane but also have a dynamic range which permits recording radiographs with better than 5% statistics for observation of detailed density variations in the object. A number of tests have been carried out to characterize the quality of the proton radiography system for absolute mass determination, resolution, and dynamic range. Initial dynamic experiments characterized the temporal and spatial behavior of shock propagation in high explosives with up to six images per experiment. Based on experience with the prototype system, a number of upgrades are being implemented including the anticipated capability for enhanced mass discrimination through differential multiple coulomb scattering radiographs and more images with improved imaging techniques.

Signals for a transition from surface to bulk emission in thermal multifragmentation.

Excitation-energy-gated two-fragment correlation functions have been studied between E(*)/A = (2-9)A MeV for equilibriumlike sources formed in 8-10 GeV/c pi(-) and p+197Au reactions. Comparison with an N-body Coulomb-trajectory code shows an order of magnitude decrease in the fragment emission time in the interval E(*)/A = (2-5)A MeV, followed by a nearly constant breakup time at higher excitation energy. The decrease in emission time is strongly correlated with the onset of multifragmentation and thermally induced radial expansion, consistent with a transition from surface-dominated to bulk emission expected for spinodal decomposition.

A Survey of High Explosive‐Induced Damage and Spall in Selected Metals Using Proton Radiography

Multiple spall and damage layers can be created in metal when the free surface reflects a Taylor wave generated by high explosives. These phenomena have been explored in different thicknesses of several metals (tantalum, copper, 6061 T6‐aluminum, and tin) using high‐energy proton radiography. Multiple images (up to 21) can be produced of the dynamic evolution of damaged material on the microsecond time scale with a <50 ns “shutter” time. Movies and multiframe still images of areal and (Abel inverted) volume densities are presented. An example of material that is likely melted on release (tin) is also presented.

Design and operation of a proton microscope for radiography at 800 MeV

A high-magnification high-resolution option is desirable for the study of small-scale dynamic experiments at the LANSCE 800-MeV Proton Radiography Facility. Magnification is achievable by either repowering the existing imaging-lens quadrupoles, using new high-gradient quadrupoles, or some hybrid combination of the two. The large and complex parameter space of magnetic optics solutions was studied extensively with the 3rd order optics code MARYLIE. Some of the hybrid solutions achieve magnifications up to 150, but at the price of high chromatic aberrations. In the end, a design using only new high-gradient permanent-magnet quadrupoles was selected and built at the design parameters that minimized chromatic aberration per unit magnification. The design has a moderate magnification of 7.1 and 15.8 at the two existing image stations. First-beam commissioning results exceeded expectations. Image contrast is produced by multiple Coulomb scattering in the thin objects. Early experimental objectives are to optimize this contrast by collimator design and by adjusting the correlation in the illuminating beam, as well as to characterize the (quite high) resolution limits of the system.

Thermal excitation of heavy nuclei with 5–15 GeV/c antiproton, proton and pion beams

Abstract Excitation-energy distributions have been derived from measurements of 5.0–14.6 GeV/c antiproton, proton and pion reactions with 197 Au target nuclei, using the ISiS 4 π detector array. The maximum probability for producing high excitation-energy events is found for the 8 GeV/c antiproton beam relative to other hadrons, 3 He and p beams from LEAR. For protons and pions, the excitation-energy distributions are nearly independent of hadron type and beam momentum above about 8 GeV/c. The excitation energy enhancement for p beams and the saturation effect are qualitatively consistent with intranuclear cascade code predictions. For all systems studied, maximum cluster sizes are observed for residues with E ∗ /A∼6 MeV.

Neutron-Induced Fission Cross-Section Ratios for 239Pu, 240Pu, 242Pu, and 244Pu Relative to 235U from 0.5 to 400 MeV

The fission cross-section ratios for isotopic targets of 240Pu, 242Pu, and 244Pu relative to 235U are measured for neutron energies from 0.5 to 400 MeV and for 239Pu relative to 235U for energies f...

Proton Radiography Experiments on Shocked High Explosive Products

We studied the propagation of detonation waves and reflections of normal incident detonation waves in explosive products using the 800 MeV proton radiography facility at LANSCE. Using this system, we obtain seven to twenty‐one radiographic images of each experiment. We have examined the experimental wave velocity and density of the materials ahead and behind of the shocks as inferred from radiographs and compare them to standard explosive equations of state. Finally we compare the experiments with calculations of the experiments using the MESA hydrodynamics code.

Intensified/shuttered cooled CCD camera for dynamic proton radiography

An intensified/shuttered cooled PC-based CCD camera system was designed and successfully fielded on proton radiography experiments at the Los Alamos National Laboratory ALNSCE facility using 800-MeV protons. The four camera detector system used front-illuminated full-frame CCD arrays fiber optically coupled to either 25-mm diameter planar diode or microchannel plate image intensifiers which provided optical shuttering for time resolved imaging of shock propagation in high explosives. The intensifiers also provided wavelength shifting and optical gain. Typical sequences consisting of four images corresponding to consecutive exposures of about 500 ns duration for 40-ns proton burst images separated by approximately 1 microsecond were taken during the radiography experiments. Camera design goals and measured performance characteristics including resolution, dynamic range, responsivity, system detection quantum efficiency, and signal-to-noise will be discussed.

MULTIFRAGMENTATION : THERMAL VS. DYNAMIC EFFECTS

Reactions of 1.8 – 4.8 GeV 3He, 5.0 – 9.2 GeV/c π− and 6.0 – 14.6 GeV/c protons with natAg and 197Au targets have been studied with the ISiS 4π detector array. From reconstructed events, excitation-energy distributions have been determined and combined with a 2,3H3,4He isotope-ratio thermometer to study the heating curve for the thermal-like component of these reactions. Dynamic effects also manifest themselves in the data, as evidenced by deposition-energy saturation above ∼5 GeV, IMF emission during expansion, and sideways peaking of the IMF angular distributions for beam energies Eb ≥ 10 GeV.

Effects of in-medium cross sections and optical potential on thermal-source formation in p+{sup 197}Au reactions at 6.2-14.6 GeV/c

Effects of in-medium cross sections and of optical potential on preequilibrium emission and on formation of a thermal source are investigated by comparing the results of transport simulations with experimental results from the