Ion cluster interaction with cold targets for ICF: Fragmentation and stopping

Abstract

Heavy ion clusters are considered for driving an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) pellet. They are shown to be effective at much lower energy than required for atomic ions. Multifragmentation is discussed with a maximum entropy hypothesis. Direct pressure imparted to a DT pellet is estimated. The stopping of strongly correlated ion cluster debris flowing in a degenerate electron jellium target is calculated for polarized and unpolarized (with respect to velocity) projectiles. A reduced stopping occur for elongated configurations at low velocities (υ ⋍ 1 a.u.) and very dense targets. Transverse geometries experience a very large and enhanced stopping. Systematic trends are stressed out. Largest stopping is achieved when debris correlation lengths are smaller than the target jellium screening length.