TWO-COLLECTOR TIMING OF 3-14 MeV/u PARTICLES FROM LASER-INDUCED PROCESSES IN ULTRA-DENSE DEUTERIUM

D + D fusion may be initiated in ultra-dense deuterium D(-1) by nanosecond and picosecond pulsed lasers, as reported previously. Two in-line current collectors observe the MeV particles ejected from the laser target at up to a meter distance in a vacuum. The current signal is measured directly by using a fast oscilloscope with nanosecond resolution. Most of the signal observed is due to fast particles with energy of 3-14 MeV u(-1) This confirms that the second stage of fusion reactions 3He + D and T + D initiated in + D fusion takes place, since otherwise such a large energy would not be available. The reaction rate for He-3 and T at MeV energies is high, which means reaction with D after moving a short distance of 150 nm in the ultra-dense material.