Nuclear physics studies using high energy lasers

F. Gobet (1) , C. Plaisir (1) , F. Hannachi (1) , M. Tarisien (1) , T. Bonnet (1) , M. Versteegen (1) , M.M. Aléonard (1) , G. Gosselin (2) , V. Méot (2) , Pierre Morel (2)

1 ENL - Excitations Nucléaires par Laser
2 DPHN - Département de Physique Nucléaire (ex SPhN)

This paper presents several mechanisms expected to be responsible for nuclear excitation in laser-heated plasma. Attempts to detect such processes in nuclei initially in their ground state are discussed in 181Ta and 235U cases. A calculation of the nuclear excitation by electronic transition (NEET) rate is presented in a 201Hg plasma at local thermodynamic equilibrium. We also report on a new way of de-exciting isomeric states in plasma. This indirect decay mode is illustrated in the case of the 84Rb isomer nucleus.

Mots clés: Laser plasma; Nuclear excitations; Transition rates

Domaines: Physique Nucléaire Expérimentale [nucl-ex]

F. Gobet, C. Plaisir, F. Hannachi, M. Tarisien, T. Bonnet, et al.. Nuclear physics studies using high energy lasers. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2011, 653, pp.80-83. ⟨10.1016/j.nima.2011.01.106⟩. ⟨in2p3-00657752⟩