Generation of Mie size microdroplet aerosols with applications in laser-driven fusion experiments

Abstract

, "Generation of Mie size microdroplet aerosols with applications in laser-driven fusion experiments," Rev Sci. Instrum., 80, (2009 We have developed a tunable source of Mie scale microdroplet aerosols that can be used for the generation of energetic ions. To demonstrate this potential, a terawatt Ti: Al 2 O 3 laser focused to 2 ϫ 10 19 W / cm 2 was used to irradiate heavy water ͑D 2 O͒ aerosols composed of micron-scale droplets. Energetic deuterium ions, which were generated in the laser-droplet interaction, produced deuterium-deuterium fusion with approximately 2 ϫ 10 3 fusion neutrons measured per joule of incident laser energy.

Fusion neutrons from femtosecond relativistic laser-irradiated sub-micron aggregates in a rapid expanding jet of supercritical CO2 + CD3OD mixture

“…Let us compare our neutron yield with the data from other deuterium-containing jet targets. The efficiency of laser neutron generation from heavy water droplets of comparable size (radius 500 nm) [33] was 30 times less than in our experiments. The heavy water continuous jet is another choice [34] supporting high repetition rate operation.…”

Liquid Crystals as High Repetition Rate Targets for Ultra Intense Laser Systems

“…These near misses tend to result in a broader accelerated ion energy spectrum, [50] while the full misses can occur as frequently as one in four shots on certain experimental setups. [51] Some effort has been applied to producing droplet diameters on the order of a few µm and below. [51,52] These efforts have improved upon early experimental setups to the point that at least some of the droplet cloud can consist of sub-µm diameters with moderate densities (near 10 18 /cm 3 ).…”

“…[51] Some effort has been applied to producing droplet diameters on the order of a few µm and below. [51,52] These efforts have improved upon early experimental setups to the point that at least some of the droplet cloud can consist of sub-µm diameters with moderate densities (near 10 18 /cm 3 ). [52].…”

Evidence of the harmonic Faraday instability in ultrasonic atomization experiments with a deep, inviscid fluid

“…For example, the aerosols can be used to generate nanoparticles whose size depends on that of the ejected droplets, 1 and appropriately sized droplets can be used as targets in laser-fusion experiments. [2][3][4][5] The atomization technique involves submerging an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer in a fluid bath. The transducer drives acoustic waves through the bath, which generates a capillary wave pattern at the fluid surface.…”