For the angular radiation patterns of proton, deuteron or alpha emission, we present a way using particle-in-cell simulation of laser induced nanoplasmonic fusion. The differential Hanbury-Brown and Twiss analysis is widely used in astrophysics and in relativistic heavy ion physics to determine the source size of emitted particles. Here, we show how this method could be adopted for inertial confinement fusion. This method aims to determine the parameters of emitted nuclei after the fusion target ignition. In addition to spatial volume, the method can detect specific space-time correlation patterns connected to the collective flow post-ignition. In the NAPLIFE project, our aim is to avoid thermalization and fluidization as much as possible at each stage of the fusion process. As the original laser beam is nonthermal and not equilibrated in any way, it is obvious that we can minimize energy loss if we exploit the initial available energy in a nonthermal way. The detailed dynamics of deuterium and alpha production is not aimed at and not addressed by this paper.

Why do we use nano-antennas for fusion? In three sentences: The present laser induced fusion plans use extreme mechanical shock compression to get one hotspot and then ignition. Still fusion burning spreads slower than expansion, and mechanical instabilities may also develop. With nano-antennas in radiation dominated systems, simultaneous ignition can be achieved in the whole target volume and there is no time left for mechanical instabilities. Ignition is achieved with protons accelerated in the direction of the nanoantennas that are orthogonal to the direction of laser irradiation. Present laser fusion methods are based on extreme and slow mechanical compression with an ablator surface on the fuel target pellet to increase compression and eliminate penetration of laser electromagnetic energy into the target. This arises from a mistaken assumption, [1] that the detonation normal 4-vector should have vanishing time-like component, and this assumption eliminates the possibility to rapid or even simultaneous, radiation dominated detonations, (which are well known in the burning (or hadronization) of Quark Gluon Plasma).

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) were numerically designed by integrating periodic plasmonic structures onto hBN-protected superconducting BSCCO patterns to enhance absorptance. The numerical investigation of optimized nanocavity array (NCAI) and nanocavity trench array (NCTAI) SNSPDs has revealed that more than one-order-of-magnitude higher absorptance can be achieved at perpendicular incidence, compared to the corresponding meandered BSCCO pattern in a simple resonant optical cavity. The presented SNSPD designs are considerably improved via first and third quarter wavelength nanocavity resonances, as evidenced by the near-field maps and validated by the standard retrieval method. Although the NCAI-SNSPD exhibits a slightly larger absorptance, the NCTAI-SNSPD remains potentially competitive due to its smaller filling factor, which may be beneficial for reduced charge-crowding effect.

Multilayers of Babinet complementary periodic structures constructed with miniarrays of spherical plasmonic nanoresonators were optimized to ensure Generalized Faraday Rotation. Nonreciprocal rotation and asymmetric transmission were achieved in spectrally overlapping regions due to the reach physics involving (i) symmetry breaking via coupled localized modes, (ii) Brillouin zone-folding stemmed from constituent sub-lattices forming in-plane twisted coupled loops, (iii) interlayer coupling between Babinet complementary patterns. The nanophotonical phenomena include (i) quasi-BIC resonances, (ii) hierarchically coupled localized and propagating modes that results in time-periodic Floquet modulation, (iii) initialization of synthetic potentials tuneable independently via intra and inter-layer parameters. The unique bianisotropic composites result in a synthetic vector gauge and emulated magnetic field manifesting itself in tilted-precessing magnetic dipoles and the accompanying modulation being time-periodic, inherently ensures a synthetic dimension. The asymmetric transmission is enhanced in the classical sense along quantized flat bands, and in mixed and forward bases inside finite wavelength-and-tilting intervals overlapping with nonreciprocal polarization rotation. The transmitted pulse re-shaping proves beating of nearby resonant modes, the loss can be compensated with active ad-layers thereby resulting in Faraday isolator capability. The multilayers synthetize topological phenomena in high-dimensional synthetic parameter spaces.

Active core-shell nanoresonators were designed in order to achieve large near-field enhancement, large power-outflow and minimal spaser threshold in the pump E-field strength. Gain-metal-dielectric (GMD) and gain-metal-gain (GMG) nanoresonator compositions were optimized with corresponding objective functions. The average local E-field, power-outflow and extinction cross-section were mapped above the pump E-field strength and dye concentration parameter plane with the criterion that the local E-field is smaller than the damage threshold of the nanoresonator. Regions, corresponding to the maxima in the average local E-field, the highest power-outflow, or to the zero-crossing of the extinction cross-section, were selected for detailed studies. The spectral distribution of the near-field enhancement, optical cross-sections, optical responses, quantum efficiencies, as well as the polar angle distribution of the far-field radiated power and the local charge distribution of dominant modes were inspected. Based on the results the GMD nanoresonator composition is proposed to maximize local E-field in near-field amplifiers, to maximize power-outflow in far-field-emitting lasers and to minimize threshold E-field in spasers. Comparing the complete characteristics, both compositions are suitable for different operation regions, the GMG is proposed as near-field amplifier and far-field out-coupling nanolaser, whereas the GMD is unambiguously preferable to achieve optimal spaser properties.

Passive and active targets, both implanted with gold nanoprisms, were designed to achieve enhanced, uniform power absorption during two-sided illumination with short laser pulses. The capabilities of uniform, single-peaked Gaussian and adjusted nanoresonator number density distributions were compared. The average local E-field inside the gain medium and at the nanoprism surface was mapped as a function of the pump E-field strength and dye concentration, and the optimal parameters were selected based on the achievable local E-field. A comparative study was performed on passive and active targets to determine the most favorable distribution type and to consider the advantages of dye doping. The adjusted distribution is proposed for both passive and active targets. Dye doping is advantageous in all distributions as it results in decreasing the minimal standard deviation of the near-field enhancement (NFE), the delay of the minimal standard deviation in the power loss and deposited energy, and the standard deviation of the NFE, while increasing the FOM of the NFE in the uniform and adjusted distributions. Dye doping allows for decreasing the delay of the minimal standard deviation in the NFE, increasing the mean NFE, and decreasing the standard deviation of the power loss and deposited energy in the uniform, Gaussian, and adjusted distribution, respectively.

Metamaterials constructed with plasmonic nanoresonator arrays of specific symmetry properties can result in asymmetric optical responses. Nonreciprocal phenomena include asymmetric cross-polarized reflection (ARcross) and transmission (ATcross) in Tellegen materials and asymmetric co-polarized transmission (ATco) in artificial moving media [1]. In our previous studies we presented multilayers constructed with consecutive periodic patterns of Babinet complementary miniarrays of spherical plasmonic nanoresonators that exhibit asymmetric optical responses [2, 3]. Comparison of tri-layers proved that all optical responses are larger for the cx-cv-cx multilayer in both inspected azimuthal orientations, except the copolarized reflectance, and X azimuthal orientation is more preferable. The (i) NIM, (ii) asymmetric transmission, (iii) asymmetric polarization rotation is accompanied by magnetic dipoles with precession trajectory is of (i) large amplitude, small ellipticity and tilting (ii) small amplitude, large ellipticity and intermediate tilting, (iii) intermediate amplitude and ellipticity, large out-of-plane tilting. The cx-cv-cx multilayer possesses better Tellegen coupling (artificial moving) characteristics compared to the cv-cx-cv layer, based on the larger ATcross and ARcross (ATco), Tellegen parameter, and larger cumulated polarization rotation (∑=(f-f)+(b-b)), despite the predominantly larger detuning between AT and ∑ maxima. The original multilayers exhibit considerable ∑ in the interval of Tellegen parameters’ modulation (at 750 nm /705 nm for cx-cv-cx in the 0° /90° azimuthal orientation). Optimization performed to reach ∑ 90°, by illuminating the multilayer with p-polarized light from backward, in the azimuthal orientation corresponding to the outgoing polarization orientation achieved in case of forward illumination (b:= f), resulted in appearance of generalized Faraday rotation phenomenon in the interval of vanishing transmission of the multilayers. Both the maximal ∑ and it’s spectral location were tunable by varying the coupling between the constituent layers. Optimization of nonreciprocity originating from magnetic field emulation via controlled out-of-plane tilted magnetic dipole generation is in progress, by setting criteria on the residual optical signals.

A 3D periodic metamaterial composed of six layers of sub-wavelength 2D nanorod arrays was optimized numerically to achieve effective parameters enabling coherent perfect absorption (CPA). Using two different compositions, targets with CPA capabilities were designed around the central wavelength of 795 nm. By tuning the geometry and monitoring the effective parameters, impedance-matched targets and conjugate counterparts were designed providing complete and phase-dependent transmission.

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) were integrated with plasmonic nanostructures to enhance the absorption efficiency of superconducting BSCCO stripes. A numerical investigation of optimized nanocavity array (NCAI) and nanocavity-trench-array (NCTAI) SNSPDs has revealed that more than one order of magnitude larger absorptance can be achieved at perpendicular incidence, when compared to the corresponding meandered BSCCO pattern in a resonant optical cavity. The SNSPDs were considerably improved either via first and third quarter cavity resonances, as evidenced by the near-field maps and validated by the standard retrieval method. Although, NCAI-SNSPD exhibits slightly larger absorptance, NCTAI-SNSPD remains competitive due to its larger period and significantly smaller filling factor, thereby allowing for quicker electric response.

Hanbury-Brown and Twiss analysis is used to determine the size and timespan of emitted particles. Here, we propose to adapt this method for laser-induced nanoplasmonic inertial confinement fusion to determine the parameters of emitted Deuterium and Helium4 nuclei. This communication is a short article that presents part of a larger study over multiple years. It presents a cutting edge method that is new in the field of Inertial Confinement Fusion.

Sensitivity of various plasmonic nanoresonators to the carrier envelope phase was numerically inspected. Geometry tuning ensured to achieve maximal near-field enhancement at the central wavelength. Phase sensitive structures to 795 nm central wavelength were designed.

Spectral regions of asymmetric transmission and polarization rotation were determined on a highly reflective and moderately chiral metamaterial constructed with concave-convex-concave Babinet complementary patterns. By optimizing the orientation of the composing nanocrescents surrounding the central nanorings in the pair of mirrored convex-concave patterns forming a wavelength-scaled cavity, enhanced asymmetric transmission and chirality, as well as large generalized Faraday rotation was achieved without any external bias.

Azimuthal orientation and handedness dependence of the optical responses, accompanied by asymmetric transmission and asymmetric dichroism, were demonstrated on multilayers constructed with subwavelength periodic arrays of Babinet complementary miniarrays, illuminated by linearly and circularly polarized light. In case of single-sided illumination asymmetric optical responses were observed at the spectral location of maximal cross-polarization that is accompanied by radiative electric dipoles and weak, slowly-rotating in-plane magnetic dipoles on the nano-objects; where the outgoing waves are elliptically (almost circularly) polarized. The negative index material phenomenon was demonstrated, where the electric and magnetic dipoles overlap both spatially and spectrally. The negative index material (NIM) phenomenon is accompanied by electric multipoles that add up non-radiatively and correlates with the strong, pronouncedly-tilted, rotating magnetic dipoles characteristic on the nano-entities, where the outgoing waves are linearly (slightly elliptically) polarized. By illuminating the multilayer with two counter-propagating circularly polarized beams it was proven that asymmetrical normal component displacement currents at the bounding interfaces, arising along flat and tilted bands, accompany the asymmetric copolarized and cross-polarized transmission. The latter correlates with the asymmetric dichroism in the cross-polarized signal observed in case of single-sided circularly polarized light illumination. The dispersion maps in the single-sided asymmetrical co-polarized reflectance and absorptance indicate flat bands of analogous and complementary extrema, proving the partially dichroic nature of the observed asymmetric phenomena. The Tellegen (chirality) coefficients exhibit a maximum in a spectral region coincident with the asymmetric transmission (maximal polarization rotation in the 90° azimuthal orientation). The multilayer is proposed as an ultrathin NIM and nonreciprocal nanophotonic element.

Targets seeded with high density multilayers of periodic active core-shell nanoresonator patterns were studied to create epsilon-near-zero materials. Comparative study was performed on quad-layers of nanoresonators, embedding and coated with the gain material, considering the optical response, near-field enhancement (NFE), effective parameters and the impact of oblique incidence.

Different metamaterial compositions constructed with high density core-shell nanoresonators were studied to enhance the optical response and near-field confinement of the system. The reflectance was enhanced by doping the core of the core-shell or the additional gain shell embedding the passive plasmonic nanoresonator with a laser dye. By varying the metamaterial properties either enhanced reflection or enhanced transmission was achievable.

Single and multiple layers of sub-wavelength periodic Babinet complementary patterns composed of rounded nano-object miniarrays were investigated. In case of illumination with linearly and circularly polarized light the azimuthal orientation and handedness (in)dependence of (cross-polarized) copolarized transmitted signal components was proven for all types of patterns. Considerable (weak) asymmetric transmission was demonstrated in extended bands exclusively for both types of copolarized (cross-polarized) signals transmitted through single layer of convex miniarrays. Three-dimensional structures constructed with convex–concave–convex complex pattern-layers resulted in a negative index at the visible region boundary both for linearly and circularly polarized light illuminations. This is because dipolar modes on the convex nano-objects are synchronized with co-existent reversal dipoles on the concave nano-objects via interlayer coupling. Although during linearly polarized light illumination, the interlayer interaction decouples the localized and propagating modes excitable on the concave pattern in the 90° azimuthal orientation, the synchronization via tilted-rotating nanoring dipoles is almost perfect in the 0° azimuthal orientation. For circularly polarized light illumination, both the dispersion maps and the negative index phenomena synthesize the characteristics of the two orthogonal linearly polarized light illuminations. Important aspect is the appearance of a small/intermediate (large) time-averaged amplitude magnetic dipole due to the tilted (twisted) electric dipole on the concave nanoring, which less/more quickly turns (continuously rotates) with large/intermediate (small) out-of-plane tilting, when illumination is realized with linearly polarized light in the 90°/0° azimuthal orientation (with circularly polarized light). The location of the negative index can be predicted based on the copolarized transmittance signals computed for circularly polarized light illumination by using the linear base representation of Jones transmission matrix elements.

A status report is presented about the Nanoplasmonic Laser Induced Fusion Experiment (NAPLIFE). The goal is to investigate and verify plasmonically enhanced phenomena on the surfaces of nanoantennas embedded in a polymer target at laser intensities up to a few times 1016 W/cm2 and pulse durations of 40–120 fs. The first results on enhanced crater formation for Au-doped polymer targets are shown, and SERS signals typical for CD2 and ND bound vibrations are cited. Trials to detect D/H ratio by means of LIBS measurments are reported. Plasmonics has the potential to work at these intensities, enhancing the energy and deuterium production, due to thus far unknown mechanisms.

Numerical optimization of silica-metal core-shell nanoresonator dimer geometries was realized to maximize the fluorescence of the NV and SiV diamond color centers. The configurations combine the advantages stemming from the elongation and reduced metal volume of hollow spheroids and the wide tunability and good antenna efficiency due to hybridization of composite modes on the core-shell dimers. The optimized coupled dimers sustain plasmonic modes that maximize the fluorescence by ensuring the simultaneous enhancement of excitation and emission. Asymmetry is advantageous in terms of good enhancement with a compromised corrected quantum efficiency. The directional fluorescence can be significantly increased in the optimized asymmetrically coupled dimer configurations.

Recent validation experiments on laser irradiation of polymer foils with and without implanted golden nanoparticles are discussed. First we analyze characteristics of craters, formed in the target after its interaction with the laser beam. Preliminary experimental results show significant production of deuterons when both the energy of laser pulse and concentration of nanoparticles are high enough. We consider the deuteron production via the nuclear transmutation reactions p+C→d+X where protons are accelerated by the Coulomb field generated in the target plasma. We argue that maximal proton energy can be above threshold values for these reactions and the deuteron yield may noticeably increase due to presence of nanoparticles.

Recently laser induced fusion with simultaneous volume ignition, a spin-off from relativistic heavy ion collisions, was proposed, where implanted nano antennas regulated and amplified the light absorption in the fusion target. Studies of resilience of the nano antennas were published recently in vacuum and in UDMA-TEGDMA medium. These studies concluded that the lifetime of the plasmonic effect is longer in medium, however, less energy was observed in the UDMA-TEGDMA copolymer, due to the smaller resonant size of gold nanoantenna than in case of Vacuum. Here we show how the plasmonic effect behaves in an environment fully capable of ionization, surrounded by Hydrogen atoms close to liquid densities. We performed numerical simulations treating the electrons of gold in the conduction band as strongly coupled plasma. The results show that the protons close to the nanorod's surface follow the collectively moving electrons rather than the incoming electric field of the light. The results also show that the plasmonic accelerating effect is also dependent on the laser intensity.