Generation of Mie size microdroplet aerosols with applications in laser-driven fusion experiments.
We have developed a tunable source of Mie scale microdroplet aerosols that can be used for the generation of energetic ions. To demonstrate this potential, a terawatt Ti:Al2O3 laser focused to 2 x 10(19) W/cm2 was used to irradiate heavy water (D2O) aerosols composed of micron-scale droplets. Energetic deuterium ions, which were generated in the laser-droplet interaction, produced deuterium-deuterium fusion with approximately 2 x 10(3) fusion neutrons measured per joule of incident laser energy.
Higginbotham
A P
AP
Department of Physics, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, USA.
Semonin
O
O
Bruce
S
S
Chan
C
C
Maindi
M
M
Donnelly
T D
TD
Maurer
M
M
Bang
W
W
Churina
I
I
Osterholz
J
J
Kim
I
I
Bernstein
A C
AC
Ditmire
T
T
D000336:Aerosols; D000465:Algorithms; D003903:Deuterium / Q000737:chemistry; D007834:Lasers; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009502:Neutrons; D011827:Radiation; D013997:Time Factors; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014965:X-Rays
D000336:Aerosols; D014867:Water; D003903:Deuterium