Features and Mechanisms of the Generation of Neutrons and Other Particles in First Laser Fusion Experiments

Abstract

The quantitative characteristics of the first successful experiments on the formation of a fusion plasma have been discussed. It has been shown that the generation of neutrons detected in these experiments is not directly due to fusion processes in a laser plasma with a comparatively low temperature. Alternative mechanisms of stimulation of a fusion reaction have been considered. It has been shown that the most probable mechanism of neutron generation is attributed to the processes of formation of correlated coherent states, which are generated by a shock wave in the undestroyed part of the target lattice or at the motion of slow ions emitted from the laser plasma in the target. It is reasonable to repeat these experiments, where the effective generation of not only neutrons but also other products of nuclear fusion should be expected.