Nuclear fusion induced by Coulomb explosion of heteronuclear clusters - art. no. 033401

We propose a new mechanism for the production of high-energy (E > 3 keV) de uterons, suitable to induce dd nuclear fusion, based on multielectron ioniz ation and Coulomb explosion of heteronuclear deuterium containing molecular clusters, e.g., (D2O)(n), in intense (10(16)-2 x 10(18) W/cm(2)) laser fie lds. Cluster size equations for E, in conjunction with molecular dynamics s imulations, reveal important advantages of Coulomb explosion of (D2O)(n) he teronuclear clusters, as compared with (D)(n) clusters. These involve the c onsiderably increased D+ kinetic energy and a narrow, high-energy distribut ion of deuterons.