Erlangen 2026 – scientific programme
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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik
P 10: High Energy Density Physics I
P 10.2: Talk
Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 11:30–11:45, KH 02.016
Recent advances in the operation of nano-accelerators towards IFE applications — •Fabian Batsch1, Daniel Rivas1, Marius S. Schollmeier1, Georg Korn1, Hartmut Ruhl1, and our collaborators2 — 1Marvel Fusion GmbH, Munich, Germany — 2LMU Munich, Germany; ELI-NP, Romania; Thales LAS, France
We propose an alternative path towards inertial fusion energy (IFE) involving ultra-short pulse, petawatt-class lasers and nano-fabricated targets. These highly ordered nanowire arrays, or nano-accelerator (NA), can absorb laser pulses with intensities above 1020 W/cm2, leading to a controlled and efficient energy transfer into radiation and kinetic particle energy. Optimal laser-solid interaction without pre-plasma formation is required for best performance of the NA, which requires ultra-high temporal laser contrast (<10−12 on ps timescales) that can be achieved through the strongly non-linear processes of either plasma mirrors or second-harmonic generation (SHG).
In this presentation we report on recent progress in the validation of the NA concept through experiments at two PW-class laser facilities: the influence of double plasma-mirrors and changes in nanowire parameters on the laser contrast, laser absorption and emitted particle spectra is studied at the Extreme Light Infrastructure for Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP, 800 nm, 10 PW). The scaling with laser wavelength will be evaluated through the second-harmonic of the ATLAS-3000 laser pulses at the Centre for Advanced Laser Applications (CALA, 400 nm, >25 J, 30 fs). First results on SHG conversion efficiency, focus quality and contrast improvements will be presented.
Keywords: nano-accelerator; fusion; IFE; plasma mirrors; SHG