Ion heating and thermonuclear neutron production from high-intensity subpicosecond laser pulses interacting with underdense plasmas.

Thermonuclear fusion neutrons produced by D(d,n)3He reactions have been measured from the interaction of a high-intensity laser with underdense deuterium plasmas. For an input laser energy of 62 J, more than (1.0+/-0.2)x10(6) neutrons with a mean kinetic energy of (2.5+/-0.2) MeV were detected. These neutrons were observed to have an isotropic angular emission profile. By comparing these measurements with those using a secondary solid CD2 target it was determined that neutrons are produced from direct ion heating during this interaction.

[1]  Erik Lefebvre,et al.  Neutron emission from a deuterated solid target irradiated by an ultraintense laser pulse , 2001 .

[2]  A. Dangor,et al.  Observation of a hot high-current electron beam from a self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator. , 2001, Physical review letters.

[3]  J. Meyer-ter-Vehn,et al.  Collective stopping and ion heating in relativistic-electron-beam transport for fast ignition , 2000, Physical review letters.

[4]  Edward B. Clark,et al.  Energetic heavy-Ion and proton generation from ultraintense laser-plasma interactions with solids , 2000, Physical review letters.

[5]  D. Neely,et al.  Characterization of neutral density profile in a wide range of pressure of cylindrical pulsed gas jets , 2000 .

[6]  Michael D. Perry,et al.  Electron, photon, and ion beams from the relativistic interaction of Petawatt laser pulses with solid targets , 2000 .

[7]  D. Neely,et al.  MULTI-MEV ION PRODUCTION FROM HIGH-INTENSITY LASER INTERACTIONS WITH UNDERDENSE PLASMAS , 1999 .

[8]  Justin S. Wark,et al.  Observation of a highly directional γ-ray beam from ultrashort, ultraintense laser pulse interactions with solids , 1999 .

[9]  T. E. Cowan,et al.  Nuclear fusion from explosions of femtosecond laser-heated deuterium clusters , 1999, Nature.

[10]  G. Malka,et al.  FAST NEUTRON EMISSION FROM A HIGH-ENERGY ION BEAM PRODUCED BY A HIGH-INTENSITY SUBPICOSECOND LASER PULSE , 1999 .

[11]  T. J. Schep,et al.  Production of direct fusion neutrons during ultra-intense laser-plasma interaction , 1998 .

[12]  Warren B. Mori,et al.  SUPPRESSION OF ELECTRON PONDEROMOTIVE BLOWOUT AND RELATIVISTIC SELF-FOCUSING BY THE OCCURRENCE OF RAMAN SCATTERING AND PLASMA HEATING , 1998 .

[13]  J. Meyer-ter-Vehn,et al.  Neutron production by 200 mJ ultrashort laser pulses , 1998 .

[14]  T. C. Sangster,et al.  Hot electron production and heating by hot electrons in fast ignitor research , 1998 .

[15]  A. E. Dangor,et al.  Neutron production from picosecond laser irradiation of deuterated targets at intensities of , 1998 .

[16]  A. E. Dangor,et al.  Electron acceleration from the breaking of relativistic plasma waves , 1995, Nature.

[17]  I. Hutchinson.  Principles of Plasma Diagnostics , 1987 .

[18]  A. H. Wapstra,et al.  The 1983 atomic mass evaluation: (II). Nuclear-reaction and separation energies , 1985 .

[19]  D. Bugg,et al.  Intense Charged Particle Beams , 1983 .