Shock Temperature Measurement Using Neutron Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

We report a direct measurement of temperature in a shocked metal using Doppler broadening of neutron resonances. The 21.1-eV resonance in $^{182}\mathrm{W}$ was used to measure the temperature in molybdenum shocked to $\ensuremath{\sim}63\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{a}$. An explosively launched aluminum flyer produced a planar shock in a molybdenum target that contained a 1-mm thick layer doped with $1.7\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}.\text{ }%^{182}\mathrm{W}$. A single neutron pulse, containing resonant neutrons of less than $1\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ duration, probed the shocked material. Fits to the neutron time-of-flight data were used to determine the temperature of the shocked molybdenum.