Comment on ``Observation of neutronless fusion reactions in picosecond laser plasmas''
Abstract
The paper by Belyaev [Phys. Rev. E 72, 026406 (2005)] reported the first experimental observation of alpha particles produced in the thermonuclear reaction B11(p,α)B8e induced by laser irradiation on a B11 polyethylene (CH2) composite target. The laser used in the experiment is characterized by a picosecond pulse duration and a peak of intensity of 2×1018W/cm2 . We suggest that both the background-reduction method adopted in their detection system and the choice of the detection energy region of the reaction products are possibly inadequate. Consequently the total yield reported underestimates the true yield. Based on their observation, we give an estimation of the total yield to be higher than their conclusion, i.e., of the order of 105α per shot.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review E
- Pub Date:
- March 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevE.79.038401
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0812.2436
- Bibcode:
- 2009PhRvE..79c8401K
- Keywords:
-
- 52.58.Ei;
- 41.75.Jv;
- 52.50.Jm;
- 52.38.Ph;
- Light-ion inertial confinement;
- Laser-driven acceleration;
- Plasma production and heating by laser beams;
- X-ray gamma-ray and particle generation;
- Physics - Plasma Physics;
- Nuclear Experiment;
- Nuclear Theory;
- Physics - Space Physics
- E-Print:
- 3 figures, accepted for publication in the Comment section of Physical Review E