METHOD OF INITIATING NUCLEAR FUSION REACTION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC H05H15/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: disclosed method of initiating a nuclear fusion reaction includes use of two targets, selecting as material of the first target deuterated polyethylene (CD₂)_n with thickness l₁ in the range of 1-10 mcm, generating deuterium ions from the back side of the ionised material of the first target under the action, on the front surface of said target, of a high-contrast laser beam of relativistic intensity and ultra-short duration with energy in the range of 10-500 J and contrast in the range of 10⁸-10¹⁰. The method provides acceleration of deuterium ions towards the second target to expose the surface layer thereof to the accelerated deuterium ions. The second target is a titanium target, the front surface of which is pre-activated with helium ions ³He. The second target is placed in a vacuum at a distance of 10-50 mm from the first target and deuterium ions moving towards its surface are accelerated to an energy which is sufficient to conduct the reaction D+³He→⁴He+p+18.3 MeV to obtain α-particles (⁴He) and protons p.

EFFECT: use of the invention with interaction of intense laser pulses with solid-state targets enables to lower special requirements for radiation safety when designing an apparatus for initiating nuclear fusion reactions.

3 cl, 2 dwg