Neutron production from picosecond laser irradiation of deuterated targets at intensities of 1019Wcm-2

Neutron fluxes of up to 7x107 neutrons/s? were measured when planar deuterated targets were irradiated with 1.3 ps FWHM (full width at half maximum) laser pulses at a wavelength of 1054 nm and focused intensities up to 1019Wcm-2. The neutron energy spectra are consistent with an angularly dispersed beam target interaction, whereas a thermonuclear source is considered unlikely. (author). Letter-to-the-editor