Ultrafast laser architectures for quantum control of nuclear fusion

Abstract

Quantum control of nuclear fusion involves engineering quantum coherences in a nuclear wavepacket to accelerate tunneling through the Coulomb barrier and modifying the analytic structure of the $\text{S}$-matrix to facilitate long-range reactive capture. We present a three-body fusion reaction which is amenable to quantum control. The main result of the present inquiry is the discovery of an embodied class of ultrafast laser architectures [Levitt $\text{et al.}$, U.S. Patent Application No. 17/855,476 (2022)] which realize solutions to the Schrödinger equation in a logically consistent manner as to that presented in [Saha $\text{et al.}$, Mol. Phys. $\text{110}$, 9-10 (2012)]. Further, we provide some necessary (but not necessarily sufficient) conditions for net electrical power production using the optical designs here.

11 pages, 2 figures