Temperature measurements of fusion plasmas produced by Petawatt-Laser-Irradiated D2 - (3)He or CD4 - (3)He clustering gases

Two different methods have been employed to determine the plasma temperature in a laser-cluster fusion experiment on the Texas Petawatt laser. In the first, the temperature was derived from time-of-flight data of deuterium ions ejected from exploding D(2) or CD(4) clusters. In the second, the temperature was measured from the ratio of the rates of two different nuclear fusion reactions occurring in the plasma at the same time: D(d,(3)He)n and (3)He(d,p)(4)He. The temperatures determined by these two methods agree well, which indicates that (i) the ion energy distribution is not significantly distorted when ions travel in the disassembling plasma; (ii) the kinetic energy of deuterium ions, especially the "hottest part" responsible for nuclear fusion, is well described by a near-Maxwellian distribution.

[Subcutaneous emphysema of the anterior chest wall as the only symptom of spontaneous rupture of the esophagus]

A diagnostically difficult case of Boerhaave's syndrome is reported. The patient gave a history of subcutaneous emphysema of the anterior chest wall as the only sign. Aspiration drainage through thoracotomy opening and artificial alimentation through jejunostomy were used with success.