PIC simulations of laser-induced proton acceleration by resonant nanoantennas for fusion

Abstract

Rapid recent development in laser technology and methods learned from relativistic heavy ion physics led to new possibilities for fusion. Using a Hydrogen rich UDMA-TEGDMA polymer fusion target, laser irradiation ionizes the target. If we implant nanoantennas into the target resonating to the laser light frequency massive number of electrons of the ionized plasma resonate within the nanoantenna forming a so called nanoplasmonic wave. Our kinetic model simulation with a Hydrogen target indicates that the field of these resonating electrons attracts and accelerates the surrounding protons of the plasma to multi-MeV energy. These protons are then energetic enough to achieve nuclear transmutation and fusion reactions. Without resonating nanoantenna there is no such collective proton acceleration, no energetic protons, and nuclear reactions at 30 mJ laser pulse energy.