Nuclear fusion induced by coulomb explosion of heteronuclear clusters

Isidore Last, Joshua Jortner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We propose a new mechanism for the production of high-energy (E > 3 keV) deuterons, suitable to induce dd nuclear fusion, based on multielectron ionization and Coulomb explosion of heteronuclear deuterium containing molecular clusters, e.g., (D2O)n, in intense (1016 − 2 × 1018 W/cm2) laser fields. Cluster size equations for E, in conjunction with molecular dynamics simulations, reveal important advantages of Coulomb explosion of (D2O)n heteronuclear clusters, as compared with (D)n clusters. These involve the considerably increased D+ kinetic energy and a narrow, high-energy distribution of deuterons.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33401-1-33401-4
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume87
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Jul 2001

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