Abstract The FUSION project (an acronym for FUsion StudIes of prOton boron Neutron-less reaction in laser-generated plasma) was launched in 2022 by researchers from INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) and ENEA. This project marks the first scientific initiative funded by INFN in the field of Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). The main objectives of FUSION are to develop a new generation of solid targets designed to enhance the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ fusion reaction rate, being this reaction a potential candidate for future ICF schemes. FUSION will also focus on designing novel diagnostic techniques for measuring reaction products and, ultimately, estimating alpha and proton cross-sections in a plasma environment. The project will be carried out through two experimental campaigns at a laser facility equipped with a high-energy, long-pulse (picosecond) laser. In the proposed experimental setup, the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ reaction will be triggered simultaneously ‘in target’ by the protons generated in the laser matter interaction and 11B present in the same expanding plasma and in the ‘pitcher-catcher’ configuration. In FUSION, a set of measurements will also be dedicated to a first estimation of the proton and alpha-stopping power in a plasma. FUSION will enable a comprehensive understanding of the reactions and will help in optimize the conditions for future applications in inertial nuclear fusion with the $^{11}B(p,\alpha)2\alpha$ reaction.

Abstract We have experimentally investigated the collisionless shock acceleration of ions via the interaction of a relativistic intensity (3 × 1019 W/cm2), 1.053 µm wavelength laser pulse with an underdense plasma. This plasma is formed through the use of a novel cluster jet design that allows for control of the plasma peak density and front scale length without the use of additional plasma-forming laser pulses. When the front density scale length of the target plasma is less than 60 µm, the laser pulse (1 J, 400 fs) is capable of launching an electrostatic shock wave that accelerates a proton beam. This beam is shown to have a narrow divergence angle of 0.8°, a peak flux of 14 × 106 protons/sr with an ion energy exceeding 440 keV. Particle-in-cell simulations indicate this narrow ion beam is produced by converging shocks generated via filamentation of the laser pulse in high-density (near critical) plasma.

Abstract A partition calculation method (PCM) for calculating the diffraction efficiency of multilayer Fresnel zone plate with high aspect ratio is proposed. In contrast to the traditional theory, PCM designs and evaluates Fresnel zone plate (FZP) considering material pairs, all zone widths, thicknesses and X-ray energy more completely. The results obtained through PCM are validated by comparing them with the complex amplitude superposition theory and coupled wave theory numerical results. The PCM satisfies the requirements of the theoretical investigation of FZP with small outermost zone width (drN) and large thickness (t). Combining proper numerical analysis with the experimental conditions will present a great potential to break through the imaging performance of X-ray microscopy.

Abstract The proton–boron ${}^{11}{\text{B}}\left( {p,\alpha } \right)2\alpha $ reaction (p-11B) is an interesting alternative to the D-T reaction ${\text{D}}\left( {{\text{T}},{\text{n}}} \right)\alpha $ for fusion energy, since the primary reaction channel is aneutronic and all reaction partners are stable isotopes. We measured the α production yield using protons in the 120–260 keV energy range impinging onto a hydrogen–boron-mixed target, and for the first time present experimental evidence of an increase of α-particle yield relative to a pure boron target. The measured enhancement factor is approximately 30%. The experiment results indicate a higher reactivity, and that may lower the condition for p-11B fusion ignition.

The topic of proton-boron fusion has recently attracted considerable interest in the scientific community, both for its future perspectives for energy production and for nearer-term possibilities to realize high-brightness α-particle sources. Very interesting experimental results have been obtained, in particular in laser-driven experiments but also using other experimental approaches. The goal of this special issue is to collect the most recent developments in experiments, theory, advanced targetry, diagnostics, and numerical simulation codes.

Solid-state nuclear track detectors (CR-39 type) are frequently used for the detection of ions accelerated by laser-plasma interaction because they are sensitive to each single particle. To the present day, CR-39 detectors are the main diagnostics in experiments focused on laser-driven proton-boron (p11B) fusion reactions to detect alpha particles, which are the main products of such a nuclear reaction, and to reconstruct their energy distribution. However, the acceleration of multispecies ions in the laser-generated plasma makes this spectroscopic method complex and often does not allow to unambiguously discriminate the alpha particles generated from p11B fusion events from the laser-driven ions. In this experimental work, performed at the PALS laser facility (600 J, 300 ps, laser intensity 1016 W/cm2), CR-39 detectors were used as main detectors for the angular distribution of the produced alpha particles during a p11B fusion dedicated experimental campaign. Additionally, a CR-39 detector was set inside a Thomson Parabola (TP) spectrometer with the aim to calibrate the CR-39 response for low energetic laser-driven ions originating from the plasma in the given experimental conditions. The detected ion energies were ranging from hundreds of keV to a few MeV, and the ion track diameters were measured for etching times up to 9 hours. The goal of the test was the evaluation of the detectors’ ability to discriminate the alpha particles from the aforementioned ions. Within this study, the calibration curves for protons and silicon low energy ions are accomplished, the overlapping of the proton tracks and alpha particles is verified, and a methodology to avoid this problem is realized.