Plasma blocks from nonlinear force generated skin layer acceleration for ignition of a fusion flame in nearly uncompressed solid DT

Abstract

It seemed to be an impossible task thirty years ago to shine a laser beam on uncompressed solid DT and to ignite a fusion flame since the necessary energy flux densities are in the range of more than 100MJ/cm 2 or corresponding deuterium ion current densities above 10 10 Amp/cm 2 which conditions were completely out of range. Since PW-ps laser pulses are available now, the situation has changed, however, by inclusion of a very sophisticated method for suppressing prepulses such that relativistic self-focusing is avoided and a purely plane or similar geometry interaction as a skin layer process appears. Out of the wide stream of research, only very special experiments with clear laser pulses confirmed this kind of interaction in theoretical and numerical agreement. This leads to the space-charge neutral plasma blocks or pistons generated by the nonlinear (ponderomotive) acceleration for producing the necessary ion current densities for the optimized ion energies of 80 keV to irradiate solid state DT. While numerous further properties have to be evaluated, the aim seems to be attractive for the very low cost fusion energy production by laser irradiation.