Shock mechanisms by ultrahigh laser accelerated plasma blocks in solid density targets for fusion

Ignition of nuclear fusion flames in solid state density fuel following Chuʼs model of 1972 is evaluated using now available plasma blocks from ultrahigh acceleration with laser pulses of picosecond (ps) duration and power up to and beyond petawatt (PW). A new numerical approach is reported where genuine two-fluid hydrodynamics is used in order to study the shock mechanism of the generated fusion flame, its propagation velocities above 1000 km/s, and fusion efficiencies for deuterium–tritium needing an energy flux of 108 J/cm2. The results of the built-up of the shock process are reported showing a basic difference between the ps and nanosecond (ns) properties.