D-D nuclear fusion processes induced in polyethylene foams by TW Laser-generated plasma

Abstract

Abstract. Deuterium-Deuterium fusion processes were generated by focusing the 3 TW PALS Laser on solid deuterated polyethylene targets placed in vacuum. Deuterium ion acceleration of the order of 4 MeV was obtained using laser irradiance Iλ 2 ∼ 5 × 10 16 W μm 2 /cm 2 on the target. Thin and thick targets, at low and high density, were irradiated and plasma properties were monitored "on line" and "off line". The ion emission from plasma was monitored with Thomson Parabola Spectrometer, track detectors and ion collectors. Fast semiconductor detectors based on SiC and fast plastic scintillators, both employed in time-of-flight configuration, have permitted to detect the characteristic 3.0 MeV protons and 2.45 MeV neutrons emission from the nuclear fusion reactions. From massive absorbent targets we have evaluated the neutron flux by varying from negligible values up to about 5 × 10 7 neutrons per laser shot in the case of foams targets, indicating a reaction rate of the order of 10 8 fusion events per laser shot using "advanced targets".

Diagnostics of Particles emitted from a Laser generated Plasma: Experimental Data and Simulations

“…It was achieved using a post ion acceleration from 1kV up to 30 kV and Gaf-Chromic films as ions detector [8]. The spectrogram at PALS was obtained irradiating with 10 16 W/cm 2 laser intensity a deuterated polyethylene and using a Micro Channel Plate coupled to a phosphor screen as ions detector [12].…”

SixMeVproton acceleration from plasma generated by high‐intensity laser using advanced thin polyethylene targets

“…In nuclear physics, protons can be used at some MeV energy to induce nuclear reactions in different light elements generating secondary monoenergetic particles (protons, alpha, beta) and gamma rays. [6] Resonant cross sections and high yield generation of secondary particles can be used in material diagnostics to analyse peculiar elements or to study the processes occurring in stellar plasma and in other astrophysical approaches. [7,8] In the field of consumable energy, the plasma deuteron acceleration permits inducing deuterium-deuterium (D-D) and deuterium-tritium (D-T) nuclear fusion processes to develop energy and energetic neutrons and monoenergetic particles.…”

SiC detectors for radiation sources characterization and fast plasma diagnostic

“…Alternatively the detectors can be employed in time-of-flight (TOF) configuration using a known flight distance from the point of the radiation generation source and using the little signal produced in the active region of the detector only to establish the arrival of particles from the start signal to calculate the particle velocity and energy. In this case it is not necessary that the signal is proportional to the energy deposited in the active region, thus the detector can be employed also for very high radiation fluxes, as those emitted from the laser generated plasmas [3]. For such applications SiC are employed to have detailed information on the plasma properties such as ion mass and energy recognition and plasma temperature evaluation.…”