METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING DIRECTIONAL AND COHERENT GAMMA-RADIATION Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: laser engineering; generation of directional coherent gamma-radiation pulse beam.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes pumping of active medium which is, essentially, laser rod made in the form of elongated monocrystal cylinder accommodating uniformly disposed nuclei of isotopes of uranium hydride group and hydrogen atoms; monocrystal lattice has relatively parallel crystal planes and shafts of laser rod; the latter functions at the same time as fast neutron moderator, neutron wave shaper, pumping source, and active medium; laser rod is first enclosed in thermal-neutron absorbing metal envelope, then in steel carrying case with junction flanges at its ends; tightly joined and fixed on one of case ends is conical metal plug and tightly fixed on its other end is steel sleeve closed on one end and provided with axial chamber and gate built of symmetrical adjacent radial chambers of which one accommodates first rigidly fixed trinitrotoluene charge with detonator; installed in tandem in axial chamber of sleeve are neutron-absorbing metal plug free to move to second radial chamber of gate, external fast-neutron source in the form of monolithic cylinder and piston arranged for axial displacement over sleeve, as well as rigidly fixed second trinitrotoluene charge with detonator disposed at closed wall of sleeve; critical conditions are set up in monocrystal by initiating chain fission reaction of heavy uranium nuclei by thermal neutrons as end surface of external fast-neutron source comes in contact with that of monocrystal and sequentially explodes first and second trinitrotoluene charges with the result that plug is pushed due to gas pressure to vacant radial chamber of gate while external fast-neutron source and piston are moved in its place; piston uniformly presses neutron source end to monocrystal through its entire surface due to high-force contact and generates neutron wave on monocrystal longitudinal axis followed by emission of coherent and directional gamma-radiation from conical plug.

EFFECT: enhanced flux density and radiation power.

8 cl, 16 dwg