Overrun phenomenon and neutron yield in Coulomb explosion of deuterated alkane clusters driven by intense laser field

By using a simplified Coulomb explosion model, the laser-driven Coulomb explosion processes of three deuterated alkane clusters, i.e., deuterated methane (CD₄)_N, ethane (C₂D₆)_N and propane (C₃D₈)_N clusters are simulated numerically. The overrun phenomenon that the deuterons overtake the carbon ions inside the expanding clusters, as well as the dependence of the energetic deuterons and fusion neutron yield on cluster size, is discussed in detail. Researches show that the average kinetic energy of deuterons and neutron yield generated in the Coulomb explosion of (C₂D₆)_N cluster are higher than those of (CD₄)_N cluster with the same size, in qualitative agreement with the reported conclusions from the experiments of (C₂H₆)_N and (CH₄) _N clusters. It is indicated that (C₂D₆)_N clusters are superior to (CD₄)_N clusters as a target for the laser-induced nuclear fusion reaction to achieve a higher neutron yield. In addition, by comparing the relevant data of (C₃D₈)_N cluster with those of (C₂D₆)_N cluster with the same size, it is theoretically concluded that (C₃D₈)_N clusters with a larger competitive parameter might be a potential candidate for improving neutron generation. This will provide a theoretical basis for target selection in developing experimental schemes on laser-driven nuclear fusion in the future.