High-energy-density plasma in femtosecond-laser-irradiated nanowire array targets for nuclear reactions

Abstract

In this work, the high-energy-density plasmas (HEDP) evolved from joule-class-femtosecond-laser-irradiated nanowire array (NWA) targets are numerically and experimentally studied. The particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations indicate that ions accelerated in the sheath field around the nanowires' surface were eventually confined in NWA plasma, contributing most to the high energy densities. The protons emitted from the front surface of targets provide rich information about the interaction. The electron and ion energy densities in a broad target parameter range are given. Compared to planar targets, the ion energy density is one order of magnitude higher, and the volume of the HEDP is several-fold larger. At optimal target parameters, 8% of the laser energy can be converted to confined protons and results in ion energy densities of up to GJ/cm3 level. Experimental measurements of the emitted ions and neutrons from 2H(d, n)3He fusion from polyethylene and deuterated polyethylene NWA targets confirm the above results.

References in corpus (6)

• Origin of the heavy elements in binary neutron-star mergers from a gravitational wave event
• Enhancing laser-driven proton acceleration by using micro-pillar arrays at high drive energy
• Super-Heavy Ions Acceleration Driven by Ultrashort Laser Pulses at Ultrahigh Intensity
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Cited by in corpus (3)

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• A new scheme for isomer pumping and depletion with high-power lasers
• Radiation pattern and source size of particles in nanoplasmonic fusion