A multi-MeV alpha particle source via protonboron fusion driven by a 10-GW tabletop laser

Authors

V. Istokskaia, M. Tosca, L. Giuffrida, J. Psikal, F. Grepl, V. Kantarelou, S. Stancek, S. Di Siena, A. Hadjikyriacou, A. McIlvenny, Y. Levy, J. Huynh, M. Cimrman, P. Pleskunov, D. Nikitin, A. Choukourov, F. Belloni, A. Picciotto, S. Kar, M. Borghesi, A. Lucianetti, T. Mocek, D. Margarone

Laboratory / Department
Scientific Laser Applications
Citation
Communications Physics 6, 27 (2023)
DOI
10.1038/s42005-023-01135-x
Year
2023

For the first time on-demand generation of alpha particles via neutron-less proton-boron fusion reactions could be achieved with a table-top, 10 GW, picosecond laser tightly focused on polymer-coated boronated targets. Time-of-flight and passive CR-39 detectors evidenced alpha particles energies up to ~5 MeV with a production rate of 106 alpha particles per second at 1 kHz repetition rate. These rates can be interesting for non-destructive material investigation or nuclear reaction studies.

Sketch of the experimental setup showing the time-of-flight
a) Sketch of the experimental setup showing the time-of-flight (FC1) and passive detectors (CR-39). b) Energy distribution of detected alpha-particles retrieved from the analysis of the irradiated CR-39 detectors.

Contact person: Yoann Levy