In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser
D. Margarone, J. Bonvalet, L. Giuffrida, A. Morace, V. Kantarelou, Marco Tosca, D. Raffestin, Philippe Nicolaï, A. Picciotto, Y. Abe, Yasunobu Arikawa, Shinsuke Fujioka, Yuji Fukuda, Yasuhiro Kuramitsu, H. Habara, D. Batani
Abstract
Nuclear reactions between protons and boron-11 nuclei (p–B fusion) that were used to yield energetic α-particles were initiated in a plasma that was generated by the interaction between a PW-class laser operating at relativistic intensities (~3 × 1019 W/cm2) and a 0.2-mm thick boron nitride (BN) target. A high p–B fusion reaction rate and hence, a large α-particle flux was generated and measured, thanks to a proton stream accelerated at the target’s front surface. This was the first proof of principle experiment to demonstrate the efficient generation of α-particles (~1010/sr) through p–B fusion reactions using a PW-class laser in the “in-target” geometry.