Laser-driven plasma collider for nuclear studies

A novel method of initiating nuclear fusion reactions in a full plasma environment was suggested, and a proof-of-concept experiment was carried out with the \(\hbox {D}+\hbox {D } \rightarrow \hbox { n}\,+\,^3\)He reaction. In this new approach, two plasma jets generated by high-intensity lasers collide head-on-head. The center-of-mass energy of the nuclei increases accordingly, and therefore, reaction products can be significantly enhanced, especially in the sub-Coulomb barrier ranges. As a result of the fusion reaction, up to \(\sim 7.6\times 10^{5}\) neutrons had been observed. This new type of “plasma collider” could provide an innovative tool to study nuclear reactions under astrophysical conditions.