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Hirsch-Passicos A, Lacoste CLC, André F, Elskens Y, D'Humières E, Tikhonchuk V, Bardon M. Helical coil design with controlled dispersion for bunching enhancement of protons generated by the target normal sheath acceleration. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:025211. [PMID: 38491715 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.025211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The quality of the proton beam produced by target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) with high-power lasers can be significantly improved with the use of helical coils. While they showed promising results in terms of focusing, their performances in terms of the of cut-off energy and bunching stay limited due to the dispersive nature of helical coils. A new scheme of helical coil with a tube surrounding the helix is introduced, and the first numerical simulations and an analytical model show a possibility of a drastic reduction of the current pulse dispersion for the parameters of high-power-laser facilities. The helical coils with tube strongly increase bunching, creating two collimated narrow-band proton beams from a broad and divergent TNSA distribution. The analytical model provides scaling of proton parameters as a function of laser facility features.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Hirsch-Passicos
- CEA-CESTA, Le Barp F-33114, France
- CELIA, University of Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR5107, Talence F-33405, France
| | - C L C Lacoste
- CEA-CESTA, Le Barp F-33114, France
- CELIA, University of Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR5107, Talence F-33405, France
- INRS-EMT, Varennes QC J3X 1P7, Canada
| | - F André
- Thales AVS, Velizy-Villacoublay F-78140, France
| | - Y Elskens
- Aix-Marseille Université, PIIM, UMR 7345 CNRS, F-13397 Marseille, France
| | - E D'Humières
- CELIA, University of Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR5107, Talence F-33405, France
| | - V Tikhonchuk
- CELIA, University of Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR5107, Talence F-33405, France
- Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, ELI-Beamlines Facility, Dolní Brežany 25241, Czech Republic
| | - M Bardon
- CEA-CESTA, Le Barp F-33114, France
- CELIA, University of Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, UMR5107, Talence F-33405, France
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2
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Bhutwala K, McGuffey C, Theobald W, Deppert O, Kim J, Nilson PM, Wei MS, Ping Y, Foord ME, McLean HS, Patel PK, Higginson A, Roth M, Beg FN. Transport of an intense proton beam from a cone-structured target through plastic foam with unique proton source modeling. Phys Rev E 2022; 105:055206. [PMID: 35706166 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.105.055206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Laser-accelerated proton beams are applicable to several research areas within high-energy density science, including warm dense matter generation, proton radiography, and inertial confinement fusion, which all involve transport of the beam through matter. We report on experimental measurements of intense proton beam transport through plastic foam blocks. The intense proton beam was accelerated by the 10ps, 700J OMEGA EP laser irradiating a curved foil target, and focused by an attached hollow cone. The protons then entered the foam block of density 0.38g/cm^{3} and thickness 0.55 or 1.00mm. At the rear of the foam block, a Cu layer revealed the cross section of the intense beam via proton- and hot electron-induced Cu-K_{α} emission. Images of x-ray emission show a bright spot on the rear Cu film indicative of a forward-directed beam without major breakup. 2D fluid-PIC simulations of the transport were conducted using a unique multi-injection source model incorporating energy-dependent beam divergence. Along with postprocessed calculations of the Cu-K_{α} emission profile, simulations showed that protons retain their ballistic transport through the foam and are able to heat the foam up to several keV in temperature. The total experimental emission profile for the 1.0mm foam agrees qualitatively with the simulated profile, suggesting that the protons indeed retain their beamlike qualities.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bhutwala
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0417, USA
| | - C McGuffey
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0417, USA
- General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, California 92186-5608, USA
| | - W Theobald
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - O Deppert
- Institut für Kernphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - J Kim
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0417, USA
| | - P M Nilson
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - M S Wei
- General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, California 92186-5608, USA
| | - Y Ping
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - M E Foord
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - H S McLean
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - P K Patel
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - A Higginson
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0417, USA
| | - M Roth
- Institut für Kernphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - F N Beg
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0417, USA
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Morace A, Abe Y, Honrubia JJ, Iwata N, Arikawa Y, Nakata Y, Johzaki T, Yogo A, Sentoku Y, Mima K, Ma T, Mariscal D, Sakagami H, Norimatsu T, Tsubakimoto K, Kawanaka J, Tokita S, Miyanaga N, Shiraga H, Sakawa Y, Nakai M, Azechi H, Fujioka S, Kodama R. Super-strong magnetic field-dominated ion beam dynamics in focusing plasma devices. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6876. [PMID: 35477961 PMCID: PMC9046386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10829-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
High energy density physics is the field of physics dedicated to the study of matter and plasmas in extreme conditions of temperature, densities and pressures. It encompasses multiple disciplines such as material science, planetary science, laboratory and astrophysical plasma science. For the latter, high energy density states can be accompanied by extreme radiation environments and super-strong magnetic fields. The creation of high energy density states in the laboratory consists in concentrating/depositing large amounts of energy in a reduced mass, typically solid material sample or dense plasma, over a time shorter than the typical timescales of heat conduction and hydrodynamic expansion. Laser-generated, high current–density ion beams constitute an important tool for the creation of high energy density states in the laboratory. Focusing plasma devices, such as cone-targets are necessary in order to focus and direct these intense beams towards the heating sample or dense plasma, while protecting the proton generation foil from the harsh environments typical of an integrated high-power laser experiment. A full understanding of the ion beam dynamics in focusing devices is therefore necessary in order to properly design and interpret the numerous experiments in the field. In this work, we report a detailed investigation of large-scale, kilojoule-class laser-generated ion beam dynamics in focusing devices and we demonstrate that high-brilliance ion beams compress magnetic fields to amplitudes exceeding tens of kilo-Tesla, which in turn play a dominant role in the focusing process, resulting either in a worsening or enhancement of focusing capabilities depending on the target geometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Morace
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
| | - Y Abe
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - J J Honrubia
- ETSI Aeronautica y del Espacio, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - N Iwata
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Y Arikawa
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Y Nakata
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - T Johzaki
- Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - A Yogo
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Y Sentoku
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - K Mima
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - T Ma
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, USA
| | - D Mariscal
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, USA
| | - H Sakagami
- National Institute of Fusion Science, Toki, Japan
| | - T Norimatsu
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - K Tsubakimoto
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - J Kawanaka
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - S Tokita
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - N Miyanaga
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - H Shiraga
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Y Sakawa
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - M Nakai
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - H Azechi
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - S Fujioka
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - R Kodama
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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Wang T, Khudik V, Shvets G. Laser-Ion Lens and Accelerator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:024801. [PMID: 33512173 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.024801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Generation of highly collimated monoenergetic relativistic ion beams is one of the most challenging and promising areas in ultraintense laser-matter interactions because of the numerous scientific and technological applications that require such beams. We address this challenge by introducing the concept of laser-ion lensing and acceleration. Using a simple analogy with a gradient-index lens, we demonstrate that simultaneous focusing and acceleration of ions is accomplished by illuminating a shaped solid-density target by an intense laser pulse at ∼10^{22} W/cm^{2} intensity, and using the radiation pressure of the laser to deform or focus the target into a cubic micron spot. We show that the laser-ion lensing and acceleration process can be approximated using a simple deformable mirror model and then validate it using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of a two-species plasma target composed of electrons and ions. Extensive scans of the laser and target parameters identify the stable propagation regime where the Rayleigh-Taylor-like instability is suppressed. Stable focusing is found at different laser powers (from a few to multiple petawatts). Focused ion beams with the focused density of order 10^{23} cm^{-3}, energies in access of 750 MeV, and energy density up to 2×10^{13} J/cm^{3} at the focal point are predicted for future multipetawatt laser systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhong Wang
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
| | - Vladimir Khudik
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
- Department of Physics and Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Gennady Shvets
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
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Focussing Protons from a Kilojoule Laser for Intense Beam Heating using Proximal Target Structures. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9415. [PMID: 32523004 PMCID: PMC7287069 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65554-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Proton beams driven by chirped pulse amplified lasers have multi-picosecond duration and can isochorically and volumetrically heat material samples, potentially providing an approach for creating samples of warm dense matter with conditions not present on Earth. Envisioned on a larger scale, they could heat fusion fuel to achieve ignition. We have shown in an experiment that a kilojoule-class, multi-picosecond short pulse laser is particularly effective for heating materials. The proton beam can be focussed via target design to achieve exceptionally high flux, important for the applications mentioned. The laser irradiated spherically curved diamond-like-carbon targets with intensity 4 × 1018 W/cm2, producing proton beams with 3 MeV slope temperature. A Cu witness foil was positioned behind the curved target, and the gap between was either empty or spanned with a structure. With a structured target, the total emission of Cu Kα fluorescence was increased 18 fold and the emission profile was consistent with a tightly focussed beam. Transverse proton radiography probed the target with ps order temporal and 10 μm spatial resolution, revealing the fast-acting focussing electric field. Complementary particle-in-cell simulations show how the structures funnel protons to the tight focus. The beam of protons and neutralizing electrons induce the bright Kα emission observed and heat the Cu to 100 eV.
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Anomalous material-dependent transport of focused, laser-driven proton beams. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17538. [PMID: 30510273 PMCID: PMC6277378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36106-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Intense lasers can accelerate protons in sufficient numbers and energy that the resulting beam can heat materials to exotic warm (10 s of eV temperature) states. Here we show with experimental data that a laser-driven proton beam focused onto a target heated it in a localized spot with size strongly dependent upon material and as small as 35 μm radius. Simulations indicate that cold stopping power values cannot model the intense proton beam transport in solid targets well enough to match the large differences observed. In the experiment a 74 J, 670 fs laser drove a focusing proton beam that transported through different thicknesses of solid Mylar, Al, Cu or Au, eventually heating a rear, thin, Au witness layer. The XUV emission seen from the rear of the Au indicated a clear dependence of proton beam transport upon atomic number, Z, of the transport layer: a larger and brighter emission spot was measured after proton transport through the lower Z foils even with equal mass density for supposed equivalent proton stopping range. Beam transport dynamics pertaining to the observed heated spot were investigated numerically with a particle-in-cell (PIC) code. In simulations protons moving through an Al transport layer result in higher Au temperature responsible for higher Au radiant emittance compared to a Cu transport case. The inferred finding that proton stopping varies with temperature in different materials, considerably changing the beam heating profile, can guide applications seeking to controllably heat targets with intense proton beams.
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Kim J, Qiao B, McGuffey C, Wei MS, Grabowski PE, Beg FN. Self-Consistent Simulation of Transport and Energy Deposition of Intense Laser-Accelerated Proton Beams in Solid-Density Matter. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 115:054801. [PMID: 26274422 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.115.054801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The first self-consistent hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation of intense proton beam transport and energy deposition in solid-density matter is presented. Both the individual proton slowing-down and the collective beam-plasma interaction effects are taken into account with a new dynamic proton stopping power module that has been added to a hybrid PIC code. In this module, the target local stopping power can be updated at each time step based on its thermodynamic state. For intense proton beams, the reduction of target stopping power from the cold condition due to continuous proton heating eventually leads to broadening of the particle range and energy deposition far beyond the Bragg peak. For tightly focused beams, large magnetic field growth in collective interactions results in self-focusing of the beam and much stronger localized heating of the target.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kim
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - B Qiao
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - C McGuffey
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - M S Wei
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92186, USA
| | - P E Grabowski
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - F N Beg
- Center for Energy Research, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA
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