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journal article·2022-01-28Open access

In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser

Daniele Margarone, Julien Bonvalet, Lorenzo Giuffrida, Alessio Morace, Vasiliki Kantarelou, Marco Tosca, Didier Raffestin, Philippe Nicolai, Antonino Picciotto, Yuki Abe, Yasunobu Arikawa, Shinsuke Fujioka, Yuji Fukuda, Yasuhiro Kuramitsu, Hideaki Habara, Dimitri Batani

Applied Sciences· Volume 12· Issue 3
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Source abstract

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.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics · Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma · High-pressure geophysics and materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK

ELI–Beamlines Center, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Za Radnicí 835, 252 41 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic

CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), CNRS, CEA, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France

Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan

Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 180 00 Prague, Czech Republic

MNF—The Micro Nano Characterization and Fabrication Facility, Bruno Kessler Foundation, Via Sommarive 18, 38122 Trento, Italy

Kansai Photon Science Institute (KPSI), National Institutes for Quantum and Science and Technology (QST), 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa-shi 619-0215, Japan

Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan

HB11 Energy Holdings pty. Ltd., 11 Windora Avenue, Sydney, NSW 2096, Australia

Funding

Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic · EUROfusion Enabling Research Project · Euratom research and training programme · JSPS KAKENHI

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