This invention presents a method of sparking nuclear fusion reactions for energy generations using light-pulse-induced nanostructure dynamics. Igniting fusion reactions at the nanoscale leverages a small amount of input spark energy to achieve a highly localized nuclear fusion energy gain which is capable to ignite a conventional macroscopic nuclear fusion burn producing a million-fold energy gain. Background: This technology builds on multiple converging areas of research: high intensity short pulse coherent light sources, ultrafast light-pulse-matter interactions at nanoscale, nuclear fusion in plasma, and (advanced aneutronic) nuclear reactions for energy gain. The novel element in this approach is the formation of non-thermal flow of fusion reactants at nanoscale. This is achieved using specially structured resonant to intense light pulse nanostructures each fully enveloped by the coherent light pulse and responding in highly synchronous manner. The sub-picosecond energy deposition in the nano-target causes desired nano-material ionization and rapid electron removal, driving for proper geometry and element composition of the nano-target a collective fusion reactant implosion, reaching extreme densities and temperatures on 30 femtosecond timescale. In the following bounce the surviving non-burned reactants join fusion reaction products in outwards flow igniting fusible material in the bulk. This nano-sized fusion spark mechanism bypasses the confinement and ignition challenges of conventional inertial or magnetic fusion. It represents a promising alternative pathway for achieving the extreme matter conditions required for nuclear fusion burn ignition, with significant advantages in efficiency, system scalability, and integration capability with existent fusion approaches. Applications:
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