Investigation of strong interactions between light nuclei at superlow energies using Z-pinch plasma flow

Abstract

The goal of the present investigation is to measure cross sections for the reactions between light nuclei in the energy range 100-2000 eV using intense nanosecond ion beams produced by means of liner plasma. The experiments of this project will allow unique information on characteristics of nuclear reactions between light nuclei at superlow collisions energies. With classical accelerator it is actually impossible to get accelerated particle beams that are intense enough to measure extremely small cross sections of the reactions in question (/spl sigma/<10/sup -32/ cm/sup 2/). Now there are experimental data of pd, dd, dt and tt cross sections at collision energies over 50 keV, 3 keV, 5 keV and 30 keV respectively. Their values fail within the range 10/sup -30/-10/sup -31/ cm/sup 2/. According to theoretical calculations, the cross sections for the reactions in question at energies 100-2000 eV lie in the range 10/sup -35/-10/sup -48/ cm/sup 2/ [1], so classical accelerators cannot be used to measure cross sections for these processes at the above energies because of low intensity of accelerated p, d, t beams. In this connection we suggest that highly intense, radially convergent ion beams generated during implosion of liner plasma should be used. Intensity of these beams is about 10/sup 21/ particles per pulse in the given energy range.