The yield of alpha particles in neutronless fusion reactions 11B +p in plasmas produced by picosecond laser pulses with the peak intensity of 2 x 10(18) W/cm2 has been observed. Experiments were carried out on the "Neodymium" laser facility at the pulse energy of 10-12 J and pulse duration of 1.5 ps. The composite targets 11B + (CH2)n were used. The yield of 10(3) alpha particles per pulse has been observed. The energy spectrum of alpha particles contains two maxima: at 3-4 MeV and at 6-10 MeV . The first of these peaks corresponds to the secondary alpha12 particles at the decay of the intermediate first excited state of 8Be, whereas the second peak demonstrates generation of alpha1 particles in the reaction 11B +p with the production of this excited state. Simultaneous measurements of neutrons result in zero yield, which proves the observation of neutronless fusion reactions in our experiments.

Recent experimental and theoretical investigations are reviewed concerning the generation of fast charged particles and superstrong magnetic fields in the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with solid targets. The mechanisms of generating fast charged particles in superstrong light fields of laser radiation with intensities ranging from 10 17 to 10 21 W cm ±2 are considered. Electron acceleration due to vacuum heating, the ponderomotive potential, resonance absorption, the laserdriven wake field in the underdense part of plasma, cyclotron mechanism and some other mechanisms are thoroughly analyzed. Experimental data on the acceleration of protons and atomic ions by spatial charge fields on thin and thick solid targets are presented and theoretically interpreted. Particular attention is paid to the generation of superstrong quasistatic magnetic fields in laser plasmas and methods for measuring them under the action of various laser pulses of both femtoand picosecond durations. The possible formation of magnetic plasma configurations and magnetic plasma confinement are discussed.

Spectra in the 7.10 to 8.60 A range from highly charged copper ions are observed from three different laser-produced plasmas (LPPs). The LPPs are formed by a 15-ns Nd:glass laser pulse (type I: E(pulse)=1-8 J, lambda=1.064 microm), a 1-ps Nd:glass laser pulse (type II: E(pulse)=1 J, lambda=1.055 microm), and a 60-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulse (type III: E(pulse)=800 mJ, lambda=790 nm). The spectra of high-n (n

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We have observed spectra from highly charged zinc ions in a variety of laser-produced plasmas. Spectral features that are Na - and Mg -like satellites to high- n Rydberg transitions in the Ne -like Zn XXI spectrum are analyzed and modeled. Identifications and analysis are made by comparison with highly accurate atomic structure calculations and steady state collisional-radiative models. Each observed Zn XX and Zn XIX feature comprises up to approximately 2 dozen individual transitions, these transitions are excited principally by dielectronic recombination through autoionizing levels in Na - and Mg -like Zn19+ and Zn18+. We find these satellites to be ubiquitous in laser-produced plasmas formed by lasers with pulse lengths that span four orders of magnitude, from 1 ps to approximately 10 ns. The diagnostic potential of these Rydberg satellite lines is demonstrated.

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