RO130134A2 - Testing process for complex systems and components using pulsed and synchronized flows of laser-accelerated particles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for testing components, circuits and complex equipments while determining their effect upon the operation characteristics and parameters, as well as upon the program controlling the operation thereof, where appropriate, using an external particle flow which can be accompanied by an X ray or γ ray flux having various energies and intensities. According to the invention, the process consists in using separate laser-plasma accelerators arranged in various positions and at various distances from the system to be tested, they generating packets of accelerated particles, either simultaneously or with a certain delay, where the instantaneous intensity of synchronized pulsed flows of accelerated particles can be much higher than in the case of conventional accelerators, thereby leading to the possibility of occurrence of multiple defects induced during certain time intervals of interest for testing the complex systems and the programs controlling the operation thereof.

Description

TEST PROCESS FOR COMPONENTS AND COMPLEX SYSTEMS IN PULSE AND SYNCHRONIZED FLOWS WITH LASER ACCELERATED PARTICLES.

The invention relates to a process by which two or more pulsed fluxes of particles are generated, possibly accompanied by gamma or X-ray emission, characterized by certain spatial configurations for their application on complex components or systems. The pulses of particles, according to the invention, can be generated simultaneously or they can be offset in time. The particles generated can be, but are not limited to, electrons, protons, neutrons or various species of ions. The pulsed fluxes of particles generated according to the invention may contain one or more types of particles. The components to which the invention relates may be, but are not limited to: electrical, electronic, optical, mechanical or combinations thereof. The complex systems referred to in the present invention refer to any assembly containing a certain number of components that interact with one another or with other elements outside of it and which perform, as a whole, certain functions. Such systems can, without limitation, be programmable. By programmable systems we mean those systems whose operation depends on the nature, type and content of a series of commands, hereinafter referred to as a program, implemented by construction, stored in advance by certain elements of these systems or supplied externally during operation. The installation referred to by the present invention can be used for the purpose of determining the effect of an external flow of particles and radiations, having different energies, on the operating characteristics and parameters of the complex components and circuits, as well as on the program that controls the operation. them.

It is known that particle and radiation fluxes can affect the integrity of electronic equipment leading to their destruction or malfunction (see for example A. Holmes-Siedle, L. Adams, Handbook of Radiation Ejfects, Oxford University Press, England, 2002, ISBN 0-19-850733-X). Such situations are encountered in the case of electronic equipment aboard satellites, spacecraft or airplanes flying at very high altitude, the control systems of nuclear reactors or particle accelerators, the facilities used for handling radioactive materials and in areas affected by nuclear accidents. Therefore it is of great practical importance to develop electrical, electronic, mechanical or optical components and systems as well as their proper programming so that they function normally in the presence of radiation with a broad energy spectrum. This requires testing the solutions proposed under conditions similar to those listed above. In «2313-00643 θ -00- 2013 this purpose is necessary to create systems with which to generate fluxes of particles and radiation whose characteristics are similar to those found in the cosmic space, at high altitude, inside the nuclear reactors or in areas affected by nuclear accidents. For the purpose of testing the effect of high energy particle flows on various equipment, conventional particle accelerators are usually used. Their operation is based on the acceleration of charged particles in various configurations of electric and magnetic fields. Their use has the following disadvantages:

- the generation of the fluxes of particles requires very large installations;

- fluxes containing a single type of particles are generated, therefore the effect of the simultaneous action of several types of particles cannot be tested;

- the section of the particle beam is very small so that the effect of the action of the beam on the whole tested element or on a significant surface of it cannot be tested;

- the flux of particles is usually mono-energetic, a characteristic that differs from that encountered in the real situations for which the tests must be performed;

It is known that the use of very high power lasers allows the creation of compact, small particle accelerators that have characteristics comparable to those of conventional accelerators. This type of accelerator is based on the generation of particles and their acceleration in the plasma formed by the interaction between the laser beam and a solid or gaseous target. For example, in X. Wang, quasi-monoenergetic laser-plasma acceleration of electrons to GeV, Nature Communications 4, article number: 1988, doi: 10.1038 / ncomms2988 of June 11, 2013, describes a system for producing an electron beam. with the energy of 2GeV based on the interaction of an ultra-short, extremely intense, laser pulse of the order of 1PW (duration 150fs, wavelength 1.057pm, energy E <15OJ) which interacts with a gas medium formed from He, with purity 99 , 99%, at pressure 1 -8 torr, located in a capillary tube with a diameter of 3 mm and a length of 7 cm.

Thereafter such particle acceleration systems, based on the interaction between high intensity pulsed laser beams and plasma, will be referred to as laser plasma accelerators. In the case of a conventional accelerator, a distance of approximately 10,000 times is needed to obtain an electron beam with the same energy. The triggering of the plasma-laser accelerator, meaning the generation at its exit of a group of accelerated particles, hereinafter referred to as the accelerated particle packet, occurs as a result of the application at its entrance of an ultra-short laser pulse, hereinafter referred to as the incident laser pulse, of high intensity provided by a high power external laser. Nature, shape and dimensions # 2 0 1 3 - 0 0 6 4 3 ⁹ -08-2013 the target, also the intensity and duration of the incident laser pulse determines the type of particles to be generated. By modifying these characteristics the type and energy of the generated particles can be controlled. For example, according to S. Abuazoum, SM Wiggins, RC Issac, GH Welsh, G. Vieux, M. Ganciu, and DA Jaroszynski, A high voltage pulsed power supply for capillary discharge waveguide applications, Rev. Sci. Tools. 82, 063505 (2011), an electron accelerator is based, but is not limited to, on the interaction of a focused laser beam with a filamentary plasma induced in a capillary tube that allows the accelerated electron beam parameters to be adapted to the test conditions ( duration, energy, divergence) by modulating the parameters of the initial current in the capillary and the pressure as well as the nature of the gas inside the capillary. Electron acceleration devices, respectively protons, can create by mixing ionized accelerated particle mixtures with different compositions that also include the generation of other types of radiation (X, gamma) or other nuclear particles (neutrons) over a period of time. control. In B. Hidding et all, Laser-plasmaraccelerators-A novel, versatile tool for space radiation studies, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A 636 (2011) 31-40, it is shown that the energy distribution of particles generated by laser accelerators -plasma have characteristics similar to those found in cosmic space. Therefore, it is possible to use the fluxes of particles generated by the laser-plasma accelerators, to test the effects of the fluxes of particles with characteristics similar to those of the cosmic space on the complex systems (defined above), including the programs that control their operation, on board. satellites and spacecraft. Such systems are described in the patents DE 10 2010 010 716 Al / 16.02.2012, WO 2012/177561 A2 / 18.06.2012 and US2011 / 0240888 Al. The systems described above have the following disadvantages:

- the particle beam contains only one type of particle;

- the particle beam is applied from a single direction;

The technical problem that the invention solves is that it describes a process by which two or more competing pulses of radiation and radiation can be obtained, which can propagate in different directions, are characterized by a certain spatial extension, can be generated simultaneously. or with a certain time gap between them and are composed of several types of particles. The process can be used, but is not limited to testing equipment, components, and programs that control their operation, on board satellites or spacecraft.

The test procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and synchronized fluxes of laser accelerated particles removes the disadvantages of the methods mentioned above, ¢ (-2013-00643 ⁸ -08-2013

in that, according to the invention, two or more independent laser-plasma accelerators placed at different positions and at different distances from the tested system are used. Each of the laser-plasma accelerators contains a solid or gaseous target that interacts with a high power incident laser beam applied in the form of very short pulses. The type of particles generated by each laser-plasma accelerator depends on the nature of the target. Using different targets, the accelerated particle beams containing different types of particles can be obtained according to the invention. The number of plasma-laser accelerators is determined according to the test needs and the size of the test systems, but is limited by the number and power of the available lasers. For each incident laser pulse, a packet of accelerated particles is born, resulting in a pulsed beam of particles having the repetition rate equal to that of the incident laser pulses and synchronized with them. The incident laser pulses can be obtained according to the invention by dividing, using optical components, the pulsed laser beam generated by a single laser, or they may come from two or more different lasers, so that the laser pulses generated by each of them are controlled. may be triggered simultaneously or be offset for a certain period of time, depending on requirements. The synchronization, or the controllable delay, respectively, of the laser beams used for particle acceleration, in order to achieve the conditions mentioned above, is done, according to the invention, either using very high power lasers separately, with control systems controlled by a synchronization module or by splitting. the beam of a laser in several beams, with specialized optical systems that provide adjustable delays. Thus, according to the invention, accelerated particle packs of the same or different types can be applied to the component or system under test, which may occur at certain time intervals set by the user. Because the type of particles generated depends on the nature of the target with which the incident laser beam interacts, using several separate laser-plasma accelerators containing different targets, beams containing multiple types of particles can be obtained simultaneously or with a certain time lag. Using several separate laserplasma accelerators, arranged in different positions relative to the tested system, it can be subjected to the action of a particle flow applied in several directions and having a significant cross section with respect to the surface of the tested system. Particle packets are generated in the form of high intensity short pulses and by their temporal and spatial synchronization instantaneous irradiation intensities of much higher values can be obtained than in the case of conventional accelerators, thus favoring the induction of multiple defects over short periods of time allowing the study of the operating capacity of the systems tested in the presence of these defects. By introducing controlled delays between particle packets

Λτ2 Ο 1 3 - 0 0 6 43 θ -08- 2013

generated according to the invention, different test scenarios of complex systems and their ability to solve radiation-induced failures can be implemented.

Compared to the above solutions, the process referred to in the invention has the following advantages:

- different high power lasers can be used which leads to the simultaneous or time-controlled obtaining by the operator of multiple beams of particles with different characteristics;

- by the use of separate laser-plasma accelerators, pulsed beams can be obtained containing different types of particles (electrons and protons, for example) that can be applied simultaneously or with a certain time lag over the tested component or system;

- due to the arrangement of the laser-plasma accelerators in different positions, radiation beams from different directions can be applied on the tested component or system;

- due to the arrangement of the laser-plasma accelerators in different positions, radiation beams can be applied, simultaneously or successively, to different areas of them, increasing the surface exposed to the flux of particles;

- by placing the laser-plasma accelerators in different positions, on the component or system tested, radiation beams can be applied, simultaneously or successively, on different areas of them, allowing the simulation of the case where the flux of particles acts on several critical elements of the system tested;

- by the use of two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators, suitably arranged in space and triggered simultaneously or according to a certain time sequence established by the operator, it is possible to obtain pulsed beams of particles with a high degree of uniformity or spatial homogeneity, and controlled time. Thus, the conditions that arise when a spacecraft crosses the radiation belts or areas affected by solar flares can be simulated.

The pulsed particle fluxes generated by applying the process of the invention, produced simultaneously or with variable delays, can have instantaneous accumulated intensities of very high values over the picosecond order, and may induce multiple defects in the systems or components to be tested. Due to the different energy distribution and the different path traveled, multiple induced defects can be obtained in a time interval of the order of tens or hundreds of ps (if the particles are relativistic path differences of the order of 10 cm lead to temporal dispersions of their effects. the order of 300 ps).

Thus, several defects can be induced in a short period of time, which may be shorter than the specific time periods for the operation of the systems under test, systems that

1 3. - Ο Ο 6 4 3

8 -08- 2813 may be in operation at the time of testing. In this way specialized programs can be tested for the correction of the defects induced in the physical structure of the tested system, under instantaneous flow conditions for which the probability of simultaneous defects is high. One can also test the ability of the entire system to return to proper functioning after inducing multiple defects distributed over certain time intervals.

Therefore, using the process that is the object of the present invention, one can ensure, based on those presented, the testing of components, subassemblies, complex systems in working order or not, as well as of specialized programs used in the space industry and in any other field in which their exploitation. it is done under intense radiation conditions and fluxes of accelerated particles, fluxes that can be continuous or intermittent.

The following are some examples of the application of the approach, in connection with FIG. 1,2, 3 and 4 representing:

-Figure 1, block diagram of a particle generation and acceleration system using a plasma-laser accelerator

-Figure 2, an example application of the process referred to in the invention, in which two separate laser-plasma accelerators are used, the pulsed particle beam generated by each laser-plasma accelerator being applied to different areas of the system tested.

-Figure 3, an example of application of the process referred to in the invention, in which two separate laser-plasma accelerators are used, the pulsed particle beam generated by each laser-plasma accelerator being applied to the same area of the system tested.

FIG. 4, an example of application of the process referred to in the invention, in which two separate plasma laser accelerators are used, the incident laser pulse for each of the two plasma laser accelerators being provided by a single power laser, the beam Its output is divided by optical methods.

Figure 1 shows the block diagram of a particle acceleration system using a plasma-laser accelerator. The high power laser 1 generates very high intensity ultra-short pulses that propagate along the direction 2. They are directed by the plane mirror 3 to the parabolic mirror 4 which in turn focuses them on a solid or gaseous target contained by the accelerator. laser-plasma 5. Each incident laser pulse triggers a complex physical process which generates at the output of the laser-plasma accelerator a pulsed beam of accelerated particles 6 having a certain spatial divergence.

Figure 2 shows an example of application of the process referred to in the invention, in which the effect of radiation on the system 19 is tested, using, according to the invention, two separate laser-plasma accelerators, 15 and 16, positioned in different positions opposite of the system be O 1 3 - 0 0 6 43

8 -08- 2013 tested 19 and generating pulsed beams of accelerated particles 17 and 18. According to the invention, pulsed beams of accelerated particles 17 and 18, may contain particles of the same or different types, depending on the construction of the laser-plasma accelerators 15 and 16. The geometry of the system is chosen such that, according to the invention, the surface exposed to the particle beams by the system tested 19 is larger than a single laser-particle accelerator would have been used. At the input of each of the laser particle accelerators 15 and 16, incident laser pulses from different high power lasers 7 and 8. respectively are applied. The laser beam 13, generated by the high power laser 7, is guided by the mirror 9 to the parabolic mirror 11, which focuses the beam at the entrance of the laser-plasma accelerator

15. The laser beam, 14, generated by the high power laser 8, is directed by the mirror 10 to the parabolic mirror 12, which focuses the beam at the input of the laserplasma accelerator 16. According to the invention, the output pulses for the two high power lasers are triggered. 7 and 8 is controlled by the module 21 which generates the control signals 20a and 20b. The signals 20a and 20b may, according to the invention, be offset in time, thus allowing the successive application of particle packets on the system tested 19.

Figure 3 shows an example of application of the process referred to in the invention, in which the effect of radiation on the system 19 is tested, using, according to the invention, two separate laser-plasma accelerators, 15 and 16, placed in different positions opposite by the test system 19 and generating the pulsed beams of accelerated particles 17 and 18 which are applied over the same area of the system 19. The pulsed beams of particles 17 and 18 may contain, according to the invention, particles of different types, allowing the effect of several simultaneous actions to be tested particle types on the system 19.

Figure 4 shows an example of the application of the process of the invention, in which the effect of radiation on the system 19 is tested, using, according to the invention, two separate laser-plasma accelerators, 15 and 16, the incident laser pulse for each of the two laser-plasma accelerators, 15 and 16, being provided by a single power laser 1, its output beam 2 being divided using the beam splitter 22. One of the beams 27 is guided by the mirrors 25, 26 and 10 to the parabolic mirror 12, this focusing the beam at the laser-plasma accelerator entrance 16. The other beam 28, after crossing the compensation blade 30, is directed with the help of mirrors 23, 24, 29 and 9 to the parabolic mirror 11, this focusing the beam at the entrance of the laser-plasma accelerator

15. By moving the assembly formed by the mirror system 23 and 24, the optical path of the incident laser pulses applied to the input of the laser-plasma accelerator 15 and

0 1 3.- 0 0 6 4 3

8 -00- 2013

by default it will generate accelerated particle packets 17 with some delay compared to the laser-plasma accelerator 16.

For the application of the process referred to in the invention, high power lasers 1, 7 or 8 generate laser pulses with instantaneous power between 10TW and 1 PW, with a duration of 2550 fs and a repetition frequency between 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz.

For each of the application examples of the process represented in figure 2 or figure 3, the laser beam generated by the high power lasers 7 or 8 can be optically divided by a method similar to the one shown in figure 4, thus doubling the number of laser accelerators. -plasma possible and therefore the number of pulsed beams of accelerated particles.

Claims (10)

1. Testing process for complex components and systems in pulsed and particle synchronized fluxes characterized in that two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16) are used, located in different positions in space relative to the component or system. subjected to tests (19), and which generate pulsed beams of accelerated particles (17,18) moving in different directions. 2. Testing procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and particle synchronized fluxes characterized in that two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16) are used, which generate pulsed particles of accelerated particles (17, 18). which is applied to different areas of the component or system (19) under test. 3. Testing procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and particle synchronized fluxes characterized in that two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16) are used, each of which generates accelerated particle pulsed beams (17, 18) containing the same type of particles. 4. Testing procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and particle synchronized fluxes characterized in that two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16) are used, each generating pulsed particles of accelerated particles (17, 18) containing different types of particles. 5. Testing procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and synchronized fluxes of particles, characterized in that two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16) are used, which simultaneously generate accelerated particle packets (17,18). . 6. Testing procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and synchronized fluxes of particles, characterized in that two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16) are used, which generate the successively accelerated particles packs (17, 18). , the time interval that separates them being set by the user. 7. Testing process for complex components and systems in pulsed and synchronized fluxes of particles characterized by the use of two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16), each of which is triggered by high incident laser pulses. power coming from a different laser (7, 8). 8. Testing procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and synchronized fluxes of particles characterized by the use of two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16), each of which is triggered by a OC2 O 1 3 - O O 6 4 3 2 ⁸ -08- 2013 high power incident laser pulse (2) from a single laser (1), pulse which is then divided using optical methods. 9. Testing process for complex components and systems in pulsed and particle synchronized fluxes characterized by the use of two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16), which by appropriate synchronization creates intense instantaneous fluxes capable of inducing defects multiple times of interest for testing complex systems (19) in operation as well as the programs that control their operation. 10. Testing procedure for complex components and systems in pulsed and synchronized fluxes of particles, characterized in that two or more separate laser-plasma accelerators (15, 16) are used, the number of which is adapted to the testing needs and the dimensions of the systems. complex depending on the power and number of lasers available.