Fusion neutron generation in deuterated nanowire arrays irradiated by femtosecond pulses of relativistic intensity

ORAL

Abstract

We have demonstrated a new dense fusion environment created by irradiating arrays of deuterated nanostructures with Joule--level pulses from a compact ultrafast Ti:Saphire laser. The irradiation of ordered deuterated polyethylene nanowires arrays with femtosecond pulses of relativistic intensity is shown to create ultra-high energy density plasmas in which deuterons (D) are accelerated to MeV energies, efficiently driving D-D fusion reactions and ultrafast neutron pulses. We have measured up to 2 x 10$^{\mathrm{6}}$ fusion neutrons/Joule, a 500 times increase respect to flat solid targets, a record yield for Joule-level lasers, and have also observed a rapid increase in neutron yield with laser pulse energy. We present results of a first experiments conducted at intensities \textgreater 1 x 10 $^{\mathrm{21}}$ W cm$^{\mathrm{-2}}$ that has generated \textgreater 1 x 10 $^{\mathrm{7}}$ fusion neutrons per shot. This material is based on work supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under award number FA9560-14-10232, and by NSTec.

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Authors

  • Chase Calvi

    Colorado State University

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source

  • Colin Roberts

    High Precision Devices, Boulder, CO, Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, Seagate Technology, Minneapolis, MN, Ball Aerospace (retired), Bloomfield, CO, New Mexico State University, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf, National Security Technologies, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Colorado State Univ, Colorado College, Utah State University, Advisor, Material Physics Group, Utah State University, Box Elder Innovations, LLC, JILA and Department of Physics, CU Boulder, JILA and Department of Mathematics, CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA, JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado, Boulder, NIST, University of Colorado / NIST, University of Colorado/JILA, Colorado Sch of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, UC-Berkeley, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST, Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, USAFA, Univ of Denver, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Utah Valley University, University of Colorado Boulder, Brigham Young Univ - Provo, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Sherbrooke, NIST Boulder, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (United States), Physics Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Co 80525, JILA, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, University of Guelph, University of Guelph, Canadian Light source