3 × 10⁸ D-D Neutron Generation by High-Intensity Laser Irradiation onto the Inner Surface of Spherical CD Shells

Abstract

3 × 10⁸ deuterium-deuterium (D-D) neutron generation per pulse was achieved with one-sided laser irradiation through an inlet hole of a deuterated polystyrene shell and a laser intensity of (2-3) × 10¹⁶ W/cm². X-ray pinhole camera images displayed a surprisingly uniform hot core formation at the center of the shell. Neutron time-of-flight spectra were recorded at three different angles from the laser incident axis to investigate the directional dependence. The dependence of neutron yield on laser energy, shell diameter, and inlet hole diameter is also discussed. To explain the number of the observed neutrons, a simple model, based on a central expansion of two-electron-temperature (hot and cold) plasma, is presented under assumed hot and cold electron temperature. According to this model, more than 10¹⁰ neutrons per pulse, the average amount required for many industrial applications, could be generated by using a higher intensity laser.