Laser-Induced Fusion via Resonant Nanorod Antennas

Laser-driven proton acceleration in hydrogen-rich media can be strongly modified by embedded plasmonic nanoantennas that localize electromagnetic energy on nanometer scales. The National Ignition Facility (NIF) project at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has achieved 8.6 MJ of fusion energy output from an estimated 2 MJ of energy delivered to the target. This has led to several laser fusion startup projects. Most of these operate on the same principle as the NIF project: relatively slow, mechanical compression and the resulting large thermal temperature increase. Most often, cryogenically frozen deuterium–tritium fuel is used in this reaction. This initial conventional method has disadvantages. The strongly compressed target expands faster than the fusion burn from the ignited center, so only a small part of the target fuses, and slow mechanical instabilities may also develop. The NAPLIFE Collaboration uses another method with radiation-dominated limited compression, aiming for simultaneous ignition. This is achieved by nanotechnology; laser light absorption is regulated by resonant nanoantennas.