Ion spectrometer composed of time-of-flight and Thomson parabola spectrometers for simultaneous characterization of laser-driven ions

Absolute response of a proton detector composed of a microchannel plate assembly and a charge-coupled device to laser-accelerated multi-MeV protons

The absolute response of a real-time proton detector, composed of a microchannel plate (MCP) assembly, an imaging lens, and a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, is calibrated for the spectral characterization of laser-accelerated protons, using a Thomson parabola spectrometer (TPS). A slotted CR-39 plate was used as an absolute particle-counting detector in the TPS, simultaneously with the MCP-CCD detector to obtain a calibration factor (count/proton). In order to obtain the calibration factor as a function of proton energy for a wide range of proton numbers, the absolute response was investigated for different operation parameters of the MCP-CCD detector, such as MCP voltage, phosphor voltage, and CCD gain. A theoretical calculation for the net response of the MCP was in good agreement with the calibrated response of the MCP-CCD detector, and allows us to extend the response to higher proton energies. The response varies in two orders of magnitude, showing an exponential increase with the MCP voltage and almost linear increase with the phosphor voltage and the CCD gain. The calibrated detector enabled characterization of a proton energy spectrum in a wide dynamic range of proton numbers. Moreover, two MCP assemblies having different structures of MCP, phosphor screen, and optical output window have been calibrated, and the difference in the absolute response was highlighted. The highly-sensitive detector operated with maximum values of the parameters enables measuring a single proton particle and evaluating an absolute spectrum at high proton energies in a single laser shot. The absolute calibrations can be applied for the spectral measurement of protons using different operating voltages and gains for optimized response in a large range of proton energy and number.

Accurate spectra for high energy ions by advanced time-of-flight diamond-detector schemes in experiments with high energy and intensity lasers

Time-Of-Flight (TOF) methods are very effective to detect particles accelerated in laser-plasma interactions, but they show significant limitations when used in experiments with high energy and intensity lasers, where both high-energy ions and remarkable levels of ElectroMagnetic Pulses (EMPs) in the radiofrequency-microwave range are generated. Here we describe a novel advanced diagnostic method for the characterization of protons accelerated by intense matter interactions with high-energy and high-intensity ultra-short laser pulses up to the femtosecond and even future attosecond range. The method employs a stacked diamond detector structure and the TOF technique, featuring high sensitivity, high resolution, high radiation hardness and high signal-to-noise ratio in environments heavily affected by remarkable EMP fields. A detailed study on the use, the optimization and the properties of a single module of the stack is here described for an experiment where a fast diamond detector is employed in an highly EMP-polluted environment. Accurate calibrated spectra of accelerated protons are presented from an experiment with the femtosecond Flame laser (beyond 100 TW power and ~ 10¹⁹ W/cm² intensity) interacting with thin foil targets. The results can be readily applied to the case of complex stack configurations and to more general experimental conditions.

Calibration of radiochromic EBT3 film using laser-accelerated protons

We present a proof of principle for onsite calibration of a radiochromic film (EBT3) using CR-39 as an absolute proton-counting detector and laser-accelerated protons as a calibration source. A special detector assembly composed of aluminum range filters, an EBT3 film, and a CR-39 detector is used to expose the EBT3 film with protons in an energy range of 3.65 MeV-5.85 MeV. In our design, the proton beam is divided into small beamlets and their projection images are taken on the EBT3 film and the CR-39 detector by maintaining a certain distance between the two detectors. Owing to the geometrical factor of the configuration and scattering inside the EBT3, the areal number density of protons was kept below the saturation level of the CR-39 detector. We also present a method to relate the number of protons detected on the CR-39 in a narrow energy range to protons with a broad energy spectrum that contribute to the dose deposited in the EBT3 film. The energy spectrum of protons emitted along the target normal direction is simultaneously measured using another CR-39 detector installed in a Thomson parabola spectrometer. The calibration curves for the EBT3 film were obtained in the optical density range of 0.01-0.25 for low dose values of 0.1 Gy-3.0 Gy. Our results are in good agreement with the calibrations of the EBT3 film that are traditionally carried out using conventional accelerators. The method presented here can be further extended for onsite calibration of radiochromic films of other types and for a higher range of dose values.

A Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer for characterizing ion energy distributions in a coaxial plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode

Measurements of ion energy distribution are performed in the accelerated plasma of a coaxial electromagnetic plasma gun operating in a gas-puff mode at relatively low discharge energy (900 J) and discharge potential (4 kV). The measurements are made using a Thomson-type mass and energy spectrometer with a gated microchannel plate and phosphor screen as the ion sensor. The parabolic ion trajectories are captured from the sensor screen with an intensified charge-coupled detector camera. The spectrometer was designed and calibrated using the Geant4 toolkit, accounting for the effects on the ion trajectories of spatial non-uniformities in the spectrometer magnetic and electric fields. Results for hydrogen gas puffs indicate the existence of a class of accelerated protons with energies well above the coaxial discharge potential (up to 24 keV). The Thomson analyzer confirms the presence of impurities of copper and iron, also of relatively high energies, which are likely erosion or sputter products from plasma-electrode interactions.

Laser-driven proton acceleration enhancement by nanostructured foils

Nanostructured thin plastic foils have been used to enhance the mechanism of laser-driven proton beam acceleration. In particular, the presence of a monolayer of polystyrene nanospheres on the target front side has drastically enhanced the absorption of the incident 100 TW laser beam, leading to a consequent increase in the maximum proton energy and beam charge. The cutoff energy increased by about 60% for the optimal spheres' diameter of 535 nm in comparison to the planar foil. The total number of protons with energies higher than 1 MeV was increased approximately 5 times. To our knowledge this is the first experimental demonstration of such advanced target geometry. Experimental results are interpreted and discussed by means of 2(1/2)-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

Review of laser-driven ion sources and their applications

For many years, laser-driven ion acceleration, mainly proton acceleration, has been proposed and a number of proof-of-principle experiments have been carried out with lasers whose pulse duration was in the nanosecond range. In the 1990s, ion acceleration in a relativistic plasma was demonstrated with ultra-short pulse lasers based on the chirped pulse amplification technique which can provide not only picosecond or femtosecond laser pulse duration, but simultaneously ultra-high peak power of terawatt to petawatt levels. Starting from the year 2000, several groups demonstrated low transverse emittance, tens of MeV proton beams with a conversion efficiency of up to several percent. The laser-accelerated particle beams have a duration of the order of a few picoseconds at the source, an ultra-high peak current and a broad energy spectrum, which make them suitable for many, including several unique, applications. This paper reviews, firstly, the historical background including the early laser-matter interaction studies on energetic ion acceleration relevant to inertial confinement fusion. Secondly, we describe several implemented and proposed mechanisms of proton and/or ion acceleration driven by ultra-short high-intensity lasers. We pay special attention to relatively simple models of several acceleration regimes. The models connect the laser, plasma and proton/ion beam parameters, predicting important features, such as energy spectral shape, optimum conditions and scalings under these conditions for maximum ion energy, conversion efficiency, etc. The models also suggest possible ways to manipulate the proton/ion beams by tailoring the target and irradiation conditions. Thirdly, we review experimental results on proton/ion acceleration, starting with the description of driving lasers. We list experimental results and show general trends of parameter dependences and compare them with the theoretical predictions and simulations. The fourth topic includes a review of scientific, industrial and medical applications of laser-driven proton or ion sources, some of which have already been established, while the others are yet to be demonstrated. In most applications, the laser-driven ion sources are complementary to the conventional accelerators, exhibiting significantly different properties. Finally, we summarize the paper.

A Thomson parabola ion imaging spectrometer designed to probe relativistic intensity ionization dynamics of nanoclusters

Conventional techniques of probing ionization dynamics at relativistic intensities for extended target systems such as clusters are difficult both due to problems of achieving good charge resolution and signal integration over the focal volume. Simultaneous measurement of arrival time, necessary for these systems, has normally involved complicated methods. We designed and developed a Thomson parabola imaging spectrometer that overcomes these problems. Intensity sampling method evolved in this report is proved to be mandatory for probing ionization dynamics of clusters at relativistic intensities. We use this method to measure charge resolved kinetic energy spectra of argon nanoclusters at intensities of 4 × 10(18) W cm(-2).