26–31 Jul 2026
Luskin Conference Center, UCLA
US/Pacific timezone

Optimizing Positron Converter and Particle Spectrometer Shielding Design Using FLUKA Simulations

Not scheduled
20m
Luskin Conference Center, UCLA

Luskin Conference Center, UCLA

Speaker

Isabelle LaBelle (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics)

Description

Recent experiments exploring positron generation using the electron beam from the OMEGA EP self-modulated laser wakefield acceleration (SMLWFA) platform struggle with insufficient positron signal relative to background using the existing particle spectrometer. To address this challenge, a new particle spectrometer is being designed with a larger aperture and specially designed magnetic optics to increase particle collection and enhance signal strength. FLUKA Monte-Carlo simulations were applied to optimize the positron converter for the next round of experiments and to design a shielding configuration for the new particle spectrometer. For the electron beam from the OMEGA EP SMLWFA platform, a 0.4cm thick tungsten converter maximizes positron yield. The optimized shielding design places the high-Z shield 10cm downstream of the converter to effectively scatter secondary particles and suppress background; this shielding achieves signal-to-noise ratios exceeding 3:1 in the modeling.

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy [National Nuclear Security Administration] University of Rochester “National Inertial Confinement Fusion Program” under Award Number DE-NA0004144 and the U.S. Department of Energy under Awards DE-SC0021057.

Working group WG5

Author

Isabelle LaBelle (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics)

Co-authors

Charles Arrowsmith (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics) Marco Romo-Gonzalez (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics) Robert Boni (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics) Jessica Shaw (Laboratory for Laser Energetics)

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