A new arxiv paper, perhaps of interest - "Laser-induced synthesis and decay of Tritium under exposure of solid targets in heavy water" http://arxiv.org/abs/1306.0830
ABSTRACT: The processes of laser-assisted synthesis of Tritium nuclei and their laser-induced decay in cold plasma in the vicinity of solid targets (Au, Ti, Se, etc.) immersed into heavy water are experimentally realized at peak laser intensity of 10E10-10E13 Watts per square centimeter. Initial stages of Tritium synthesis and their laser-induced beta-decay are interpreted on the basis of non-elastic interaction of plasma electrons having kinetic energy of 5-10 eV with nuclei of Deuterium and Tritium, respectively. EXCERPT: ...New possibilities of laser initiation of nuclear reactions have been demonstrated at peak laser intensity levels of 10^10-10^13 W/cm^2 [6-9]. This approach is based on the laser exposure of nanoparticles suspended in a liquid (colloidal solution). The crucial role in laser-induced acceleration of nuclear decays belongs to nanoparticles (NPs) and nanostructures (NS) on the target immersed into liquid that interact with laser beam in presence of unstable isotopes. In fact, the possibility of initiation of nuclear transformations in cold laser-induced plasma with electron temperature of 5-10 eV has been shown... Is it possible that localized random lasing intensities can reach 10^10 W/cm^2? - or that plasma electrons in arcs, plasmons, ballistic currents, etc., can have similar effects? -- Lou Pagnucco
