Nuclear Fusion Effects Induced in Intense Laser-Generated Plasmas

Authors

  • Lorenzo Torrisi
  • Salvatore Cavallaro
  • Mariapompea Cutroneo
  • Josef Krasa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/1775

Keywords:

D-D fusion, plasma laser, D-D cross section, proton detection, neutron detection.

Abstract

Deutered polyethylene (CD2)n thin and thick targets were irradiated in high vacuum by infrared laser pulses at 1015W/cm2 intensity. The high laser energy transferred to the polymer generates plasma, expanding in vacuum at supersonic velocity, accelerating hydrogen and carbon ions. Deuterium ions at kinetic energies above 4 MeV have been measured by using ion collectors and SiC detectors in time-of-flight configuration. At these energies the deuterium–deuterium collisions may induce over threshold fusion effects, in agreement with the high D-D cross-section valuesaround 3 MeV energy. At the first instants of the plasma generation, during which high temperature, density and ionacceleration occur, the D-D fusions occur as confirmed by the detection of mono-energetic protonsand neutrons with a kinetic energy of 3.0 MeV and 2.5 MeV, respectively, produced by the nuclear reaction. The number of fusion events depends strongly on the experimental set-up, i.e. on the laser parameters (intensity, wavelength, focal spot dimension), target conditions (thickness, chemical composition, absorption coefficient, presence of secondary targets) and used geometry (incidence angle, laser spot, secondary target positions).A number of D-D fusion events of the order of 106÷7 per laser shot has been measured.

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Author Biographies

Lorenzo Torrisi

Salvatore Cavallaro

Mariapompea Cutroneo

Josef Krasa

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Published

2013-01-02

How to Cite

Torrisi, L., Cavallaro, S., Cutroneo, M., & Krasa, J. (2013). Nuclear Fusion Effects Induced in Intense Laser-Generated Plasmas. Acta Polytechnica, 53(2). https://doi.org/10.14311/1775

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Articles