dt nuclear fusion within a single Coulomb exploding composite nanodroplet

• Published in: The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Atomic, molecular, and optical physics, 2009-07, Vol.54 (1), p.71-75
• Main Authors: Last, I., Jortner, J., Peano, F., Silva, L. O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory; Atomic; Atomic and molecular clusters; Atomic and molecular collision processes and interactions; Atomic and molecular physics; Clusters and Nanostructures; Exact sciences and technology; General theories and models of atomic and molecular collisions and interactions (including statistical theories, transition state, stochastic and trajectory models, etc.); Molecular; Optical and Plasma Physics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Spectroscopy/Spectrometry; Spintronics; Stability and fragmentation of clusters; Studies of special atoms, molecules and their ions; clusters
• ISSN: 1434-6060; 1434-6079
• DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2009-00170-1

We present a computational study of dt fusion driven by Coulomb explosion within a single, large, heteronuclear two-component D 2 /T 2 nanodroplet, originating from kinematic overrun effects between deuterons and tritons. Scaled electron and ion dynamics simulations have been used to explore the size dependence and the isotopic composition dependence of the intra-nanodroplet (INTRA) dt fusion yield in a composite D 2n-2k T 2k nanodroplet, initially consisting of an inner sphere of D 2 molecules surrounded by an outer sphere of T 2 molecules (n = 1.4× 10 8 –2.0×10 9 , k/n = 0.10–0.60, and initial radii R 0 = 1100–2700 Å) driven by a single, ultraintense, near-infrared, Gaussian laser pulse (peak intensity 10 20  W cm -2 , pulse length 25 fs). INTRA dt fusion in D 2n-2k T 2k nanodroplets with neutron yields of 30–90 (per nanodroplet, per laser pulse) were attained in the size domain R 0 = 2000–2700 Å with the optimal composition in the range of k/n = 0.2–0.4. INTRA yields in D 2n-2k T 2k nanodroplets are similar (within 20–40%) to those in initially homogeneous (DT) n nanodroplets of the same size. These INTRA yields are sufficiently large to warrant experimental observation in a single nanodroplet. The INTRA dt fusion can be distinguished from the inter-nanodroplet dt fusion reaction, which occurs inside and outside the macroscopic plasma filament, by the nanodroplet size dependence of the yield and by the different energies of the neutrons produced in these two channels.