The team of scientists from Colorado State University has achieved record-breaking progress in the efficiency of microscopic nuclear fusion experiments. By applying nanowire arrays to the preparation of laser fusion target materials, the results have exceeded 500 times the efficiency of previous nuclear fusion experiments. Published in the internationally renowned journal Nature-Communications.
CSU's research team uses a fairly compact laser on the table to emit laser pulses to a fusion target, rather than a larger, higher-power laser. The key to this breakthrough is that the material of the laser fusion target is not a traditional planar structure. It is a nanowire array structure made of deuterated polyethylene, which bombards a fusion target of a nanowire array structure with a femtosecond high-speed laser pulse to excite an ultra-high-density high-temperature plasma, emit a deuterium atomic nucleus and a large amount of neutrons. They pointed out that their experimental efficiency in this experiment was 2 million fusion neutrons per laser energy per Joule, which was 500 times more efficient than previous fusion experiments using planar laser fusion target materials, which broke through the equivalent Intensity laser nuclear fusion field latest record.
The more efficient fusion neutron production method can benefit neutron imaging technology, and it can also help researchers better understand the interaction between light and matter.
