Neutron production from interactions of high-intensity ultrashort pulse laser with a planar deuterated polyethylene target

The neutron production from D(d,n)-$^{3}$He nuclear fusion reactions was studied with a two-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell method combined with a three-dimensional Monte Carlo ion beam-target deposition model. The precursor for nuclear fusion reactions is high-energy (MeV) deuterons generated from a double-layer or uniform deuterated polyethylene target in the ultra-relativistic regime for peak laser intensities between 10$^{19}$ and 10$^{21}$ W/cm$^{2}$. The angular scattering of neutrons is found to be non-isotropic having a significant component in the forward (laser propagation) direction. A neutron yield of 10$^{5}$ - 10$^{7}$ neutrons per Joule laser energy is inferred from simulations.