Ultrahigh Acceleration of Plasma Blocks by Nonlinear Forces for Side-On Laser Ignition of Solid Density Fusion Fuel

A fundamental di®erence of very high intensity laser interaction with plasmas from solid targets appears with lasing at picosecond (ps) pulse durations in contrast to pulses of nanoseconds (ns). This can be seen from the more than 10,000 times higher acceleration with ps pulse du rations than with thermal pressure determined interaction. A ps pulse duration produces instantly acting high-efficiency nonlinear (ponderomotive) electrodynamic force dominated acceleration in contrast to heating with longer pulses. The ps pulses accelerate high-density plasma blocks. This can be used by a new scheme of side-on driven laser fusion with generating a °ame ignition in uncompressed fusion fuel of solid density resulting in a reaction velocity of more than 2000 km/s for DT.