Vp. Krainov et Mb. Smirnov, Nuclear fusion induced by a super-intense ultrashort laser pulse in a deuterated glass aerogel, J EXP TH PH, 93(3), 2001, pp. 485-490
A SiO2 aerogel with absorbed deuterium is proposed as a target for the fusi
on reaction d + d --> He-3 + n. induced by a superintense ultrashort laser
pulse. The multiple inner ionization of oxygen and silicon atoms in the aer
ogel skeleton occurs in the superintense laser field. All the formed free e
lectrons are heated and removed from the aerogel skeleton by the laser fiel
d at the front edge of the laser pulse. The subsequent Coulomb explosion of
the deuterated charged aerogel skeleton propels the deuterium ions up to k
inetic energies of ten keV and higher. The neutron yield is estimated at up
to 10(5) neutrons per laser pulse for similar to 200-500 ps if the peak in
tensity is 10(18) W/cm(2) and the pulse duration is 35 fs. @ 2001 MAIK "Nau
ka/Interpedodica".