Investigating the effect of neutron Irradiation on fused silica optics

There are many studies on laser-induced damage threshold of laser optics that will be used in Inertial Fusion Energy plants, however, little is known about how neutron irradiation will affect these properties. In this study, we perform neutron irradiation experiments on fused silica optics and study how the neutron dosage affects their optical properties and damage thresholds. Neutron production via thick target deuteron breakup has been carried out at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s 88-Inch cyclotron and used in the irradiation of REBCO semiconductor tape. The altered properties of the REBCO strips confirmed a varying flux of neutron dosage and provided a model for how neutron irradiation of fused silica will be carried out. Using an array of optical characterization methods and neutron irradiation at the cyclotron, we show how optical performance is altered by neutron dosage in the aim that this information can be used toward damage mitigation of optics in IFE plants.