Generation of Mie size microdroplet aerosols with applications in laser-driven fusion experiments

A P Higginbotham; O Semonin; S Bruce; C Chan; M Maindi; T D Donnelly; M Maurer; W Bang; I Churina; J Osterholz; I Kim; A C Bernstein; T Ditmire

doi:10.1063/1.3155302

Generation of Mie size microdroplet aerosols with applications in laser-driven fusion experiments

Rev Sci Instrum. 2009 Jun;80(6):063503. doi: 10.1063/1.3155302.

Authors

A P Higginbotham¹, O Semonin, S Bruce, C Chan, M Maindi, T D Donnelly, M Maurer, W Bang, I Churina, J Osterholz, I Kim, A C Bernstein, T Ditmire

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physics, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, USA.

PMID: 19566203
DOI: 10.1063/1.3155302

Abstract

We have developed a tunable source of Mie scale microdroplet aerosols that can be used for the generation of energetic ions. To demonstrate this potential, a terawatt Ti:Al2O3 laser focused to 2 x 10(19) W/cm2 was used to irradiate heavy water (D2O) aerosols composed of micron-scale droplets. Energetic deuterium ions, which were generated in the laser-droplet interaction, produced deuterium-deuterium fusion with approximately 2 x 10(3) fusion neutrons measured per joule of incident laser energy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Aerosols*
Algorithms
Deuterium / chemistry
Lasers*
Nebulizers and Vaporizers*
Neutrons
Radiation
Time Factors
Ultrasonics*
Water / chemistry
X-Rays

Substances

Aerosols
Water
Deuterium