Nuclear probes of an out-of-equilibrium plasma at the highest compression

Abstract

We report the highest compression reached in laboratory plasmas using eight laser beams, E${}_{laser}$$\approx$12 kJ, ${\tau }_{laser}$=2 ns in third harmonic on a CD${}_2$ target at the ShenGuang-II Upgrade (SGII-Up) facility in Shanghai, China. We estimate the deuterium density ${\rho }_D$= 2.0 $\pm$ 0.9 kg/cm${}^3$, and the average kinetic energy of the plasma ions less than 1 keV. The highest reached areal density $\Lambda {\rho }_D$=4.8 $\pm$ 1.5 g/cm${}^2$ was obtained from the measured ratio of the sequential ternary fusion reactions (dd$\to$t+p and t+d$\to$$\alpha$+n) and the two body reaction fusions (dd$\to$${}^3$He+n). At such high densities, sequential ternary and also quaternary nuclear reactions become important as well (i.e. n(14.1 MeV) + ${}^{12}$C $\to$ n'+${}^{12}$C* etc.) resulting in a shift of the neutron (and proton) kinetic energies from their birth values. The Down Scatter Ratio (DSR-quaternary nuclear reactions) method, i.e. the ratio of the 10-12MeV neutrons divided by the total number of 14.1MeV neutrons produced, confirms the high densities reported above. The estimated lifetime of the highly compressed plasma is 52 $\pm$ 9 ps, much smaller than the lasers pulse duration.

arXiv comment6 pages, 5 figures, submit version

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• Indication of p + 11B Reaction in Laser Induced Nanofusion Experiment
• Fusion hindrance effects in laser-induced non-neutral plasmas
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