The work of scientists for decades to harness the energy source of stars, fusion - the merger of the nuclei of atoms lightest to build heavier atoms of them under high temperatures and pressure is enormous. Nuclear fusion is called huge amounts of energy, which can be used one day to produce electricity. But the most promising nuclear fusion laboratory systems, producing radiation in the form of fast-moving neutrons, and are a health threat requires heavy armor to protect them, and dismantle the walls of the reactor itself. Scientists from the University of Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau, France to complete the nuclear fusion process at an accelerated rate, without generating harmful neutrons.
The research team led by Christine Laboon, director of research at CNRS Laboratory for the use of intense laser beams, used laser binary system to integrate with the nucleus of protons boron -11. Established a plasma laser short-term rays, or gas ionized very nuclei of boron -11 and atoms by heating; the other laser produces a beam of protons that is sweeping the nucleus of boron, and merge with it for the release of helium molecules slow-moving, instead of fast neutrons harmful. Researchers publishing their findings in the journal Nature Communications. Previous experiments generated fusion of the nuclei of boron, the laser was directed to the nuclei of boron to start the reaction. In this experiment, the proton beam generated by the laser, resulting in a ten-fold increase in the rate of fusion, as boron nuclei and protons collide together directly.
The timing was a critical factor for the success of the experiment. Boron plasma generated by the laser takes about one billionth of a second, and so the pulse beam of protons - which lasts from one trillion of a second, it must be synchronized with the other laser to hit the target accurately. Proton beam preceded by a beam of electrons, is created by the laser itself and drives away the electrons in the plasma of boron, and give a greater chance of protons collide with the nucleus of boron and thus, the beginning of the merger process. The same experiment can be repeated using a laser faster, to generate nuclear fusion reactions continuously. It is not designed this study to achieve ignition point - equivalent in terms of energy generated from the process that is equal to the input necessary for the operation of the laser. Hops that occur in the power of lasers and small size, make the laser the bilateral system "practical blueprint" for the use of nuclear fusion as an energy source in the future.
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