Quantum effects on plasma screening for thermonuclear reactions in laser-generated plasmas

TL;DR

This paper models quantum plasma screening effects on thermonuclear reactions in laser-generated plasmas, revealing significant quantum enhancements that could influence astrophysics and fusion energy research, and proposes experimental verification methods.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum plasma screening model based on the density matrix formalism for laser-generated plasmas, highlighting quantum effects on reaction rates.

Findings

Quantum effects can enhance plasma screening up to tenfold in dense plasmas.

Results suggest potential for experimental confirmation at high-intensity laser facilities.

Implications for nuclear astrophysics and fusion energy gain are discussed.

Abstract

A quantum plasma screening model based on the density matrix formalism is used to investigate theoretically the thermonuclear reactions $^{13}$C($\alpha$, $n$)$^{16}$O and $^2$H($d$, $n$)$^3$He in laser-generated plasmas over a large range of densities and temperatures. For cold and dense (solid-state density) plasmas, our results show that quantum effects can enhance the plasma screening for thermonuclear reactions up to one order of magnitude compared to the classical case. This result can have impact on nuclear astrophysics predictions, and also may play a role for fusion energy gain prospects. Our simulations allow us to identify the laser-generated plasma experimental setting in which the quantum effects on plasma screening could be confirmed at existing high-intensity laser facilities.