Neutron generation in dense femtosecond laser plasma of a structured solid target

Abstract

We report neutron production by the 2H(d, n)3He reaction induced upon the illumination of a solid nanostructured target by femtosecond laser pulses of intensity 20 PW/cm2 (1 PW = 1015 W). The target was structured through the preliminary illumination by a laser pulse of the same intensity.