Crater Formation and Deuterium Production in Laser Irradiation of Polymers with Implanted Nano-antennas

TL;DR

This study investigates how laser irradiation of polymer foils with implanted nano-antennas affects crater formation and enhances deuterium production through nuclear transmutation reactions, highlighting the role of nano-particles in increasing reaction yields.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence that nano-particles embedded in polymers can significantly boost deuteron production during laser irradiation, a novel insight into laser-induced nuclear transmutation.

Findings

Crater characteristics depend on laser and nano-particle parameters.

Deuteron production increases with higher laser energy and nano-particle concentration.

Proton energies can surpass reaction thresholds, enhancing deuteron yield.

Abstract

Recent validation experiments on laser irradiation of polymer foils with and without implanted golden nano-particles are discussed. First we analyze characteristics of craters, formed in the target after its interaction with laser beam. Preliminary experimental results show significant production of deuterons when both the energy of laser pulse and concentration of nano-particles are high enough. We consider the deuteron production via the nuclear transmutation reactions $p+C\rightarrow d+X$ where protons are accelerated by Coulomb field, generated in the target plasma. We argue that maximal proton energy can be above threshold values for these reactions and the deuteron yield may noticeably increase due to presence of nano-particles.