Overrun phenomenon and neutron yield in Coulomb explosion of deuterated alkane clusters driven by intense laser field

Abstract

By using a simplified Coulomb explosion model, the laser-driven Coulomb explosion processes of three deuterated alkane clusters, i.e., deuterated methane (CD 4 ) N , ethane (C 2 D 6 ) N and propane (C 3 D 8 ) N clusters are simulated numerically. The overrun phenomenon that the deuterons overtake the carbon ions inside the expanding clusters, as well as the dependence of the energetic deuterons and fusion neutron yield on cluster size, is discussed in detail. Researches show that the average kinetic energy of deuterons and neutron yield generated in the Coulomb explosion of (C 2 D 6 ) N cluster are higher than those of (CD 4 ) N cluster with the same size, in qualitative agreement with the reported conclusions from the experiments of (C 2 H 6 ) N and (CH 4 ) N clusters. It is indicated that (C 2 D 6 ) N clusters are superior to (CD 4 ) N clusters as a target for the laser-induced nuclear fusion reaction to achieve a higher neutron yield. In addition, by comparing the relevant data of (C 3 D 8 ) N cluster with those of (C 2 D 6 ) N cluster with the same size, it is theoretically concluded that (C 3 D 8 ) N clusters with a larger competitive parameter might be a potential candidate for improving neutron generation. This will provide a theoretical basis for target selection in developing experimental schemes on laser-driven nuclear fusion in the future.

Ultrafast Coulomb explosion imaging of molecules and molecular clusters

“…For igniting a CE, multiple electrons are removed from molecule by absorbing enough amount of energy, either by charged particle (electron/ion) collision [58][59][60][61] or by photon (x-ray irradiation/intense laser). [17,47,[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74] This process need to be fast enough for ensuring the nuclei within the molecular frame do not move. The system, in the quantum view, are populated in the high-lying repulsive potential energy surfaces of its cation after several electrons releasing, and the relative momenta of the charged fragments produced preserve the information of the initial structure of the molecular system when the axial recoil approximation [75][76][77] holds due to the ultrafast ionization of the system, as shown in Fig.…”

Fusion neutrons from femtosecond relativistic laser-irradiated sub-micron aggregates in a rapid expanding jet of supercritical CO2 + CD3OD mixture

“…where, P 0 is the initial power of the laser beam, P is the power of the beam after passing through a dispersed medium of 5), CCD (6), PMT (7), photodiode (8), chopper (9), oscilloscope (10). Inset (a) shows temporal signal from the PMT.…”

“…The scope of their applications is related to fundamental physical research [1], materials science [2], and thermonuclear energy [3]. Currently neutron beams are typically generated by nuclear reactors or influence of super-intense femtosecond laser pulses on clusters appearing as a result of supersonic gas expansion into vacuum, cluster nanoplasma can be a source not only of high-energy ions [7], broadband x-rays [8], but also neutron bursts (if deuterated substances are used to form the cluster jets) [9]. Thus, this can serve as the basis for the emergence of a new class of neutron source.…”

“…Figure 3. Experimental setup for measuring the Mie scattering indicatrix: pulse gas valve with conical nozzle (1), SC reactor with electric stirrer, pressure and temperature control (2), automatic CO 2 compressor (3), laser diode (445 nm, 100 mW) (4), lens f = 68 cm (5), CCD(6), PMT(7), photodiode(8), chopper(9), oscilloscope(10). Inset (a) shows temporal signal from the PMT.…”