Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kovachev, L. M., Iordanova, E., Yankov, G., Angelov, I. P.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.08186
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866916481467416576
author Kovachev, L. M.
Iordanova, E.
Yankov, G.
Angelov, I. P.
author_facet Kovachev, L. M.
Iordanova, E.
Yankov, G.
Angelov, I. P.
contents We present a novel method to construct particle accelerators targeting light atoms and nuclei using high-power femtosecond laser pulses. Initially, we confine light atoms within the laser pulse envelope due to longitudinal polarization forces, allowing them to acquire kinetic energies of several GeV. Subsequently, an external electric field separates the nuclei at the cathode, concentrating helium nuclei in a small area. The kinetic energy of the 1.88 GeV impacts, exceeding the alpha particle binding energy (28 MeV) by two orders of magnitude, induces powerful gamma radiation and neutron emission from decay processes. This experiment marks a demonstration of a laser-induced decay method for helium nuclei for the first time. Moreover, helium isotopes or deuterium nuclei trapped on the cathode show significantly reduced Coulomb repulsion, enabling subsequent nuclear fusion reactions and substantial nuclear energy release.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_08186
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Ultrashort laser-induced nuclear reactions: initiating decay of helium nuclei and subsequent fusion reactions
Kovachev, L. M.
Iordanova, E.
Yankov, G.
Angelov, I. P.
Optics
Nuclear Experiment
We present a novel method to construct particle accelerators targeting light atoms and nuclei using high-power femtosecond laser pulses. Initially, we confine light atoms within the laser pulse envelope due to longitudinal polarization forces, allowing them to acquire kinetic energies of several GeV. Subsequently, an external electric field separates the nuclei at the cathode, concentrating helium nuclei in a small area. The kinetic energy of the 1.88 GeV impacts, exceeding the alpha particle binding energy (28 MeV) by two orders of magnitude, induces powerful gamma radiation and neutron emission from decay processes. This experiment marks a demonstration of a laser-induced decay method for helium nuclei for the first time. Moreover, helium isotopes or deuterium nuclei trapped on the cathode show significantly reduced Coulomb repulsion, enabling subsequent nuclear fusion reactions and substantial nuclear energy release.
title Ultrashort laser-induced nuclear reactions: initiating decay of helium nuclei and subsequent fusion reactions
topic Optics
Nuclear Experiment
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.08186