Coulomb cluster explosion boosted by a quasi-dc pulse -- diagnostic tool and ultimate test of laser fusion efficiency in clusters

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to enhance neutron production in laser-initiated Coulomb explosions of Deuterium clusters by using a quasi-DC pulse to accelerate ions, improving collision efficiency and enabling diagnostic testing of laser fusion.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining quasi-DC pulse acceleration with Coulomb explosion to maximize neutron yield and proposes using E-pulse acceleration as a diagnostic tool.

Findings

Enhanced neutron production through ion acceleration

Removal of electron cloud hindrance in Coulomb explosion

Potential for improved laser fusion diagnostics

Abstract

To greatly enhance output of nuclear fusion produced neutrons in a laser-initiated Coulomb explosion of Deuterium clusters, we propose to accelerate the resulting ions by a quasi-$dc$ electrical pulse to the energies where the $D^+ + D$ collision cross-section is the highest. With $D^+$ ions bombarding then a Deuterium-rich solid-state cathode, this allows one to solve a few problems simultaneously by (a) completely removing electron cloud hindering the Coulomb explosion of ionic core, (b) utilizing up to 100% of the cluster ions to collide with the high-density packed nuclei, and (c) reaching highly increased cross-section of neutron production in a single $D^+ + D$ collision, in particular by using a multi-layered target. We also consider the use of E-pulse acceleration for diagnostic purposes.