The Nuclear Epoch of Laser Interactions

• Published in: AIP conference proceedings 2009-12, Vol.1197 (1)
• Main Authors: Borisov, Alex B., Khan, Shahab F., Poopalasingam, Sankar, McCorkindale, John C., Zhao, Ji, Boguta, John, Longworth, James W., Racz, Ervin, KFKI Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, EURATOM Association, P.O. Box 49, 1525 Budapest, Rhodes, Charles K., Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607-7062, Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607-7042, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607-7053
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; BINDING ENERGY; COMPRESSION; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ENERGY; FINE STRUCTURE; GASERS; IONIZING RADIATIONS; LASER RADIATION; MATTER; NUCLEAR MATTER; NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; NUCLEAR REACTIONS; NUCLEAR STRUCTURE; PHOTONUCLEAR REACTIONS; POWER DENSITY; RADIATIONS; X RADIATION
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.3275687

The history of power compression is a series of developmental epochs that are (1) characteristically marked by a technological breakthrough and (2) generally separated by a factor of approx10{sup 10} in power density. Based on new advances in high-power coherent x-ray technology, the transition to a new nuclear epoch of laser interactions is presently commencing. Chief outcomes foreseen are (1) the generation of power densities in the 10{sup 28}-10{sup 30} W/cm{sup 3} realm, (2) the controlled induction of nuclear interactions, and (3) the production of new states and forms of nuclear matter.