Neutral multi-MeV/u particles from laser-induced processes in ultra-dense deuterium D(0): accurate two-collector timing and magnetic analysis

Laser-induced processes in ultra-dense deuterium D(0) layers eject multi-MeV u-1 particles using ns laser pulse energies of <200 mJ. Such particles have been observed previously as mA currents to time-of-flight (TOF) collectors at up to 1 m distance. The signal current is mainly due to the ejection of secondary electrons by impinging MeV particles on the collectors. Improved two-collector time-of-flight measurements now show that the energy of the particles is in the range 1-50 MeV u-1. Their distributions are almost thermal at up to 13 MeV u-1 or are sharper than thermal. The fastest sharp peak may indicate shock-wave acceleration by many-body energy transfer. A magnetic field of 0.4 T deflects only a small part of the multi-MeV particle flux which thus mainly consists of neutral particles. By combining the TOF method with magnetic deflection, it is ascertained that the multi-MeV particles are studied and not any slower particle emission from the target. The neutral multi-MeV particles are concluded to be fragments of ultra-dense hydrogen HN(0) as observed in other experiments.