Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 April 2016
Development of a detonation wave due to α heating following short pulse laser irradiation in pre-compressed deuterium–tritium (DT) plasma is considered. The laser parameters required for development of a detonation wave are calculated. We find that a laser irradiance and energy of IL = 1.75 × 1023 W/cm2 and 12.8 kJ accordingly during 1.0 ps in a pre-compressed target at 900 g/cm3 creates an α heating fusion detonation wave. In this case, the nuclear fusion ignition conditions for the pre-compressed DT plasma are achieved along the detonation wave orbit.
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