Optimization of laser-initiated generation of thermonuclear neutrons from microdroplet plasma

— The interaction of an ultrashort laser pulse of moderately relativistic intensity ( ≳ 10 18 W/cm 2 ) with cluster plasma of spherical submicrometer droplets of heavy water is studied using three-dimensional numerical simulation. Optimization calculations are performed for determining the irradiated medium parameters providing its best heating by such laser pulses and a maximum yield of fast deuterons initiating DD reactions in microdroplet plasma. The thermonuclear neutron yield is estimated. It is shown that the yield of DD neutrons can reach 10 7 neutr./(s sr) due to the practically available mode of a sufficiently high (10 Hz) repetition rate of femtosecond laser pulses of moderate energy ( 1 J).