Observation of ion temperatures exceeding background electron temperatures in petawatt laser-solid experimentsObservation of ion temperatures exceeding background electron temperatures in petawatt laser-solid experiments Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-11-152005enNeutron time of flight signals have been observed with a high resolution neutron spectrometer using the petawatt arm of the Vulcan laser facility at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory from plastic sandwich targets containing a deuterated layer. The neutron spectra have two elements: a high-energy component generated by beam-fusion reactions and a thermal component around 2.45 MeV. The ion temperatures calculated from the neutron signal width clearly demonstrate a dependence on the front layer thickness and are significantly higher than electron temperatures measured under similar conditions. The ion heating process is intensity dependent and is not observed with laser intensities on target below 1020 W cm−2. The measurements are consistent with an ion instability driven by electron perturbations.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion47L49–L56 Norreys P. A. Lancaster K. L. Habara H. Davies J. R. Mendonça, José Tolentino, 1965- Clarke R. J. Dromey B. Gopal A. Karsch S. Kodama R. Krushelnick K. Moustaizis Stavros Μουσταιζης Σταυρος Stoeckl C. Tatarakis, M Tampo M. Vakakis Nikos Βακακης Νικος Wei M. S. Zepf, Markus, 1972- IOP Publishing Capture gamma ray spectroscopy, Neutron Neutron capture spectroscopy Spectroscopy, Neutron capture neutron capture gamma ray spectroscopy capture gamma ray spectroscopy neutron neutron capture spectroscopy spectroscopy neutron capture