1
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Liu B, Shi M, Zepf M, Lei B, Seipt D. Accelerating Ions by Crossing Two Ultraintense Lasers in a Near-Critical Relativistically Transparent Plasma. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 129:274801. [PMID: 36638283 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.129.274801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A new scheme of ion acceleration by crossing two ultraintense laser pulses in a near-critical relativistically transparent plasma is proposed. One laser, acting as a trigger, preaccelerates background ions in its radial direction via the laser-driven shock. Another crossed laser drives a comoving snowplow field which traps some of the preaccelerated ions and then efficiently accelerates them to high energies up to a few giga-electron-volts. The final output ion beam is collimated and quasimonoenergetic due to a momentum-selection mechanism. Particle-in-cell simulations and theoretical analysis show that the scheme is feasible and robust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Helmholtz Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Guangdong Institute of Laser Plasma Accelerator Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingyuan Shi
- Helmholtz Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Matt Zepf
- Helmholtz Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Bifeng Lei
- Helmholtz Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS, and SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Daniel Seipt
- Helmholtz Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
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2
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Lécz Z, Sharma A, Andreev A, Fülöp J, Kamperidis C. Sliding-wave acceleration of ions in high-density gas jet targets. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:053210. [PMID: 34134310 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.053210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A hybrid mechanism of ion acceleration is investigated which demonstrates the higher spectral density of protons at high energies. The interaction of few-cycle terrawatt laser pulses with near-critical density gas target is studied with the help of two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. The generation of few MeV protons with high spectral concentration near cutoff is attributed to the propagation of solitary waves in the decaying density profile of the gas jet. Plasma dynamics at longer time scale is explained by semianalytical modeling and conditions for solitary wave breaking are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Lécz
- ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU NKft. Dugonics square 13., 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ashutosh Sharma
- ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU NKft. Dugonics square 13., 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Alexander Andreev
- ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU NKft. Dugonics square 13., 6720 Szeged, Hungary.,Max-Born Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - József Fülöp
- ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU NKft. Dugonics square 13., 6720 Szeged, Hungary.,Institute of Physics, University of Pécs, Ifjúság str. 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
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3
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Singh PK, Pathak VB, Shin JH, Choi IW, Nakajima K, Lee SK, Sung JH, Lee HW, Rhee YJ, Aniculaesei C, Kim CM, Pae KH, Cho MH, Hojbota C, Lee SG, Mollica F, Malka V, Ryu CM, Kim HT, Nam CH. Electrostatic shock acceleration of ions in near-critical-density plasma driven by a femtosecond petawatt laser. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18452. [PMID: 33116228 PMCID: PMC7595239 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75455-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the recent advances in ultrahigh intensity lasers, exotic astrophysical phenomena can be investigated in laboratory environments. Collisionless shock in a plasma, prevalent in astrophysical events, is produced when a strong electric or electromagnetic force induces a shock structure in a time scale shorter than the collision time of charged particles. A near-critical-density (NCD) plasma, generated with an intense femtosecond laser, can be utilized to excite a collisionless shock due to its efficient and rapid energy absorption. We present electrostatic shock acceleration (ESA) in experiments performed with a high-density helium gas jet, containing a small fraction of hydrogen, irradiated with a 30 fs, petawatt laser. The onset of ESA exhibited a strong dependence on plasma density, consistent with the result of particle-in-cell simulations on relativistic plasma dynamics. The mass-dependent ESA in the NCD plasma, confirmed by the preferential reflection of only protons with two times the shock velocity, opens a new possibility of selective acceleration of ions by electrostatic shock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar Singh
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Vishwa Bandhu Pathak
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hun Shin
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Il Woo Choi
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Advanced Photonics Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Kazuhisa Nakajima
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Ku Lee
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Advanced Photonics Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hee Sung
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Advanced Photonics Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwang Woon Lee
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Joo Rhee
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Constantin Aniculaesei
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Min Kim
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Advanced Photonics Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Hong Pae
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Advanced Photonics Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Hoon Cho
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Calin Hojbota
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Department of Physics and Photon Science, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Geun Lee
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Department of Physics and Photon Science, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Florian Mollica
- Amplitude Laser Group, 91090, Lisses, France.,Laboratoire D'Optique Appliquée, ENSTA-ParisTech, Ecole Polytechnique, 828 Boulevard des Marechaux, 91762, Palaiseau CEDEX, France
| | - Victor Malka
- Laboratoire D'Optique Appliquée, ENSTA-ParisTech, Ecole Polytechnique, 828 Boulevard des Marechaux, 91762, Palaiseau CEDEX, France.,Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Chang-Mo Ryu
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Taek Kim
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea. .,Advanced Photonics Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chang Hee Nam
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Physics and Photon Science, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Lin W, Murillo MS, Feng Y. Universal relationship of compression shocks in two-dimensional Yukawa systems. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:013203. [PMID: 32069524 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.013203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Using molecular dynamical simulations, compressional shocks in two-dimensional (2D) dusty plasmas are quantitatively investigated under various conditions. A universal relationship between the thermal and the drift velocities after shocks is discovered in 2D Yukawa systems. Using the equation of state of 2D Yukawa liquids, and the obtained pressure from the Rankine-Hugoniot relation, an analytical relation between the thermal and the drift velocities is derived, which well agrees with the discovered universal relationship for various conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lin
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - M S Murillo
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Yan Feng
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
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5
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Lin W, Murillo MS, Feng Y. Pressure and energy of compressional shocks in two-dimensional Yukawa systems. Phys Rev E 2019; 100:043203. [PMID: 31770881 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.100.043203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The propagation of compressional shocks in two-dimensional (2D) dusty plasmas is investigated using MD simulations under various conditions. The shock Hugoniot curves of the relationship between the shock front speed D and the mean particle speed v[over ¯] after shocks are obtained and analytically fit to parabolic expressions. As the screening parameter increases, the weaker Yukawa interparticle interaction cause the shock Hugoniot curves to be more linear. Combining the obtained shock Hugoniot curves with the Rankine-Hugoniot jump relations, analytic expressions of pressure and energy after the shocks in 2D Yukawa systems are obtained, which are functions of the observable quantities, like the shock front speed D or the mean particle speed v[over ¯] or the specific volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lin
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - M S Murillo
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Yan Feng
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
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6
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Sharma A, Kamperidis C. High energy proton micro-bunches from a laser plasma accelerator. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13840. [PMID: 31554895 PMCID: PMC6761098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50348-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances on laser-driven ion accelerators have sparked an increased interest in such energetic particle sources, particularly towards the viability of their usage in a breadth of applications, such as high energy physics and medical applications. Here, we identify a new ion acceleration mechanism and we demonstrate, via particle-in-cell simulations, for the first time the generation of high energy, monochromatic proton micro-bunches while witnessing the acceleration and self-modulation of the accelerated proton beam in a dual-gas target, consisting of mixed ion species. In the proposed ion acceleration mechanism due to the interaction of an ultra-short, ultra-intense (2 PW, 20 fs) laser pulses with near-critical-density partially ionized plasmas (C & H species), we numerically observed high energy monochromatic proton microbunches of high quality (peak proton energy 350 MeV, laser to proton conversion efficiency ~10-4 and angular divergence <10 degree), which can be of high relevance for medical applications. We envisage that through this scheme, the range of attained energies and the monochromaticity of the accelerated protons can be increased with existing laser facilities or allow for laser-driven ion acceleration investigations to be pursued at moderate energies in smaller scale laser laboratories, hence reducing the size of the accelerators. The use of mixed-gas targets will enable high repetition rate operation of these accelerators, free of plasma debris and electromagnetic pulse disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Sharma
- ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU Non-Profit Ltd., Dugonics ter 13, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
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7
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Zhang H, Shen BF, Wang WP, Zhai SH, Li SS, Lu XM, Li JF, Xu RJ, Wang XL, Liang XY, Leng YX, Li RX, Xu ZZ. Collisionless Shock Acceleration of High-Flux Quasimonoenergetic Proton Beams Driven by Circularly Polarized Laser Pulses. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 119:164801. [PMID: 29099228 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.164801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present experimental studies on ion acceleration using an 800-nm circularly polarized laser pulse with a peak intensity of 6.9×10^{19} W/cm^{2} interacting with an overdense plasma that is produced by a laser prepulse ionizing an initially ultrathin plastic foil. The proton spectra exhibit spectral peaks at energies up to 9 MeV with energy spreads of 30% and fluxes as high as 3×10^{12} protons/MeV/sr. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations reveal that collisionless shocks are efficiently launched by circularly polarized lasers in exploded plasmas, resulting in the acceleration of quasimonoenergetic proton beams. Furthermore, this scheme predicts the generation of quasimonoenergetic proton beams with peak energies of approximately 150 MeV using current laser technology, representing a significant step toward applications such as proton therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - B F Shen
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - W P Wang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - S H Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - S S Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - X M Lu
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - J F Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - R J Xu
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - X L Wang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - X Y Liang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Y X Leng
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - R X Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Z Z Xu
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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8
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Borghesi M, Fuchs J, Bulanov SV, MacKinnon AJ, Patel PK, Roth M. Fast Ion Generation by High-Intensity Laser Irradiation of Solid Targets and Applications. FUSION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.13182/fst06-a1159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 356] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Borghesi
- The Queen’s University, School of Mathematics and Physics, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - J. Fuchs
- Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, UMR 7605 CNRS-CEA-École Polytechnique-Université Paris VI, 91128 Palaiseau 3, France
- University of Nevada, Physics Department, MS-220, Reno, Nevada 89557
| | - S. V. Bulanov
- Kansai Research Establishment, APRC-JAERI, Kizu, Japan
| | - A. J. MacKinnon
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California
| | - P. K. Patel
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California
| | - M. Roth
- Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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9
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Marciante M, Murillo MS. Thermodynamic and Kinetic Properties of Shocks in Two-Dimensional Yukawa Systems. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 118:025001. [PMID: 28128627 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.118.025001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Particle-level simulations of shocked plasmas are carried out to examine kinetic properties not captured by hydrodynamic models. In particular, molecular dynamics simulations of 2D Yukawa plasmas with variable couplings and screening lengths are used to examine shock features unique to plasmas, including the presence of dispersive shock structures for weak shocks. A phase-space analysis reveals several kinetic properties, including anisotropic velocity distributions, non-Maxwellian tails, and the presence of fast particles ahead of the shock, even for moderately low Mach numbers. We also examine the thermodynamics (Rankine-Hugoniot relations) of recent experiments [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 015002 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.111.015002] and find no anomalies in their equations of state.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Marciante
- Computational Physics and Methods Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA
| | - M S Murillo
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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10
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Kahaly S, Sylla F, Lifschitz A, Flacco A, Veltcheva M, Malka V. Detailed Experimental Study of Ion Acceleration by Interaction of an Ultra-Short Intense Laser with an Underdense Plasma. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31647. [PMID: 27531755 PMCID: PMC4987697 DOI: 10.1038/srep31647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion acceleration from intense (Iλ2 > 1018 Wcm−2 μm2) laser-plasma interaction is experimentally studied within a wide range of He gas densities. Focusing an ultrashort pulse (duration ion plasma period) on a newly designed submillimetric gas jet system, enabled us to inhibit total evacuation of electrons from the central propagation channel reducing the radial ion acceleration associated with ponderomotive Coulomb explosion, a mechanism predominant in the long pulse scenario. New ion acceleration mechanism have been unveiled in this regime leading to non-Maxwellian quasi monoenergetic features in the ion energy spectra. The emitted nonthermal ion bunches show a new scaling of the ion peak energy with plasma density. The scaling identified in this new regime differs from previously reported studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kahaly
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA, CNRS, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France.,ELI-ALPS, ELI-Hu Nkft, Dugonics ter 13, Szeged 6720, Hungary
| | - F Sylla
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA, CNRS, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France.,SourceLAB SAS, 86 rue de Paris, F-91400 Orsay, France
| | - A Lifschitz
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA, CNRS, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France
| | - A Flacco
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA, CNRS, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France
| | - M Veltcheva
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA, CNRS, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France
| | - V Malka
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA, CNRS, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France
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11
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Tresca O, Dover NP, Cook N, Maharjan C, Polyanskiy MN, Najmudin Z, Shkolnikov P, Pogorelsky I. Spectral Modification of Shock Accelerated Ions Using a Hydrodynamically Shaped Gas Target. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 115:094802. [PMID: 26371658 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.115.094802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We report on reproducible shock acceleration from irradiation of a λ=10 μm CO_{2} laser on optically shaped H_{2} and He gas targets. A low energy laser prepulse (I≲10^{14} W cm^{-2}) is used to drive a blast wave inside the gas target, creating a steepened, variable density gradient. This is followed, after 25 ns, by a high intensity laser pulse (I>10^{16} W cm^{-2}) that produces an electrostatic collisionless shock. Upstream ions are accelerated for a narrow range of prepulse energies. For long density gradients (≳40 μm), broadband beams of He^{+} and H^{+} are routinely produced, while for shorter gradients (≲20 μm), quasimonoenergetic acceleration of protons is observed. These measurements indicate that the properties of the accelerating shock and the resultant ion energy distribution, in particular the production of narrow energy spread beams, is highly dependent on the plasma density profile. These findings are corroborated by 2D particle-in-cell simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Tresca
- Accelerator Test Facility, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA
| | - N P Dover
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom
| | - N Cook
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - C Maharjan
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - M N Polyanskiy
- Accelerator Test Facility, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA
| | - Z Najmudin
- The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom
| | - P Shkolnikov
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - I Pogorelsky
- Accelerator Test Facility, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA
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12
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Daido H, Nishiuchi M, Pirozhkov AS. Review of laser-driven ion sources and their applications. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2012; 75:056401. [PMID: 22790586 DOI: 10.1088/0034-4885/75/5/056401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Daido
- Applied Laser Technology Institute, Tsuruga Head Office, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizaki, Tsuruga-shi, Fukui-ken 914-8585, Japan.
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13
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Sylla F, Flacco A, Kahaly S, Veltcheva M, Lifschitz A, Sanchez-Arriaga G, Lefebvre E, Malka V. Anticorrelation between ion acceleration and nonlinear coherent structures from laser-underdense plasma interaction. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2012; 108:115003. [PMID: 22540480 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.115003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In laser-plasma experiments, we observed that ion acceleration from the Coulomb explosion of the plasma channel bored by the laser is prevented when multiple plasma instabilities, such as filamentation and hosing, and nonlinear coherent structures (vortices or postsolitons) appear in the wake of an ultrashort laser pulse. The tailoring of the longitudinal plasma density ramp allows us to control the onset of these instabilities. We deduced that the laser pulse is depleted into these structures in our conditions, when a plasma at about 10% of the critical density exhibits a gradient on the order of 250 μm (Gaussian fit), thus hindering the acceleration. A promising experimental setup with a long pulse is demonstrated enabling the excitation of an isolated coherent structure for polarimetric measurements and, in further perspectives, parametric studies of ion plasma acceleration efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Sylla
- Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, ENSTA, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France
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14
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Willingale L, Nilson PM, Thomas AGR, Cobble J, Craxton RS, Maksimchuk A, Norreys PA, Sangster TC, Scott RHH, Stoeckl C, Zulick C, Krushelnick K. High-power, kilojoule class laser channeling in millimeter-scale underdense plasma. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2011; 106:105002. [PMID: 21469797 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.106.105002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Experiments were performed using the Omega EP laser, operating at 740 J of energy in 8 ps (90 TW), which provides extreme conditions relevant to fast ignition studies. A carbon and hydrogen plasma plume was used as the underdense target and the interaction of the laser pulse propagating and channeling through the plasma was imaged using proton radiography. The early time expansion, channel evolution, filamentation, and self-correction of the channel was measured on a single shot via this method. A channel wall modulation was observed and attributed to surface waves. After around 50 ps, the channel had evolved to show bubblelike structures, which may be due to postsoliton remnants.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Willingale
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Boulevard, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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15
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Popov KI, Rozmus W, Bychenkov VY, Naseri N, Capjack CE, Brantov AV. Ion response to relativistic electron bunches in the blowout regime of laser-plasma accelerators. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2010; 105:195002. [PMID: 21231173 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.105.195002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The ion response to relativistic electron bunches in the so called bubble or blowout regime of a laser-plasma accelerator is discussed. In response to the strong fields of the accelerated electrons the ions form a central filament along the laser axis that can be compressed to densities 2 orders of magnitude higher than the initial particle density. A theory of the filament formation and a model of ion self-compression are proposed. It is also shown that in the case of a sharp rear plasma-vacuum interface the ions can be accelerated by a combination of three basic mechanisms. The long time ion evolution that results from the strong electrostatic fields of an electron bunch provides a unique diagnostic of laser-plasma accelerators.
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Affiliation(s)
- K I Popov
- Theoretical Physics Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2J1, Alberta, Canada
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16
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Nakamura T, Bulanov SV, Esirkepov TZ, Kando M. High-energy ions from near-critical density plasmas via magnetic vortex acceleration. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2010; 105:135002. [PMID: 21230779 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.105.135002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Ultraintense laser pulses propagating in near-critical density plasmas generate magnetic dipole vortex structures. In the region of decreasing plasma density, the vortex expands both in forward and lateral directions. The magnetic field pressure pushes electrons and ions to form a density jump along the vortex axis and induces a longitudinal electric field. This structure moves together with the expanding dipole vortex. The background ions located ahead of the electric field are accelerated to high energies. The energy scaling of ions generated by this magnetic vortex acceleration mechanism is derived and corroborated using particle-in-cell simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsufumi Nakamura
- Advanced Photon Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan.
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17
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Zhuo HB, Chen ZL, Yu W, Sheng ZM, Yu MY, Jin Z, Kodama R. Quasimonoenergetic proton bunch generation by dual-peaked electrostatic-field acceleration in foils irradiated by an intense linearly polarized laser. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2010; 105:065003. [PMID: 20867985 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.105.065003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2009] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
It is found that stable proton acceleration from a thin foil irradiated by a linearly polarized ultraintense laser can be realized for appropriate foil thickness and laser intensity. A dual-peaked electrostatic field, originating from the oscillating and nonoscillating components of the laser ponderomotive force, is formed around the foil surfaces. This field combines radiation-pressure acceleration and target normal sheath acceleration to produce a single quasimonoenergetic ion bunch. A criterion for this mechanism to be operative is obtained and verified by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. At a laser intensity of ∼5.5×10(22) W/cm(2), quasimonoenergetic GeV proton bunches are obtained with ∼100 MeV energy spread, less than 4° spatial divergence, and ∼50% energy conversion efficiency from the laser.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Zhuo
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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18
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Nilson PM, Mangles SPD, Willingale L, Kaluza MC, Thomas AGR, Tatarakis M, Najmudin Z, Clarke RJ, Lancaster KL, Karsch S, Schreiber J, Evans RG, Dangor AE, Krushelnick K. Generation of ultrahigh-velocity ionizing shocks with petawatt-class laser pulses. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2009; 103:255001. [PMID: 20366258 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.255001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2009] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Ultrahigh-velocity shock waves (approximately 10,000 km/s or 0.03c) are generated by focusing a 350-TW laser pulse into low-density helium gas. The collisionless ultrahigh-Mach-number electrostatic shock propagates from the plasma into the surrounding gas, ionizing gas as it becomes collisional. The shock undergoes a corrugation instability due to propagation of the ionizing shock within the gas (the Dyakov-Kontorovich instability). This system may be relevant to the study of very high-Mach-number ionizing shocks in astrophysical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Nilson
- Department of Physics, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ United Kingdom
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19
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Fukuda Y, Faenov AY, Tampo M, Pikuz TA, Nakamura T, Kando M, Hayashi Y, Yogo A, Sakaki H, Kameshima T, Pirozhkov AS, Ogura K, Mori M, Esirkepov TZ, Koga J, Boldarev AS, Gasilov VA, Magunov AI, Yamauchi T, Kodama R, Bolton PR, Kato Y, Tajima T, Daido H, Bulanov SV. Energy increase in multi-MeV ion acceleration in the interaction of a short pulse laser with a cluster-gas target. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2009; 103:165002. [PMID: 19905702 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.165002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
An approach for accelerating ions, with the use of a cluster-gas target and an ultrashort pulse laser of 150-mJ energy and 40-fs duration, is presented. Ions with energy 10-20 MeV per nucleon having a small divergence (full angle) of 3.4 degrees are generated in the forward direction, corresponding to approximately tenfold increase in the ion energies compared to previous experiments using solid targets. It is inferred from a particle-in-cell simulation that the high energy ions are generated at the rear side of the target due to the formation of a strong dipole vortex structure in subcritical density plasmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Fukuda
- Kansai Photon Science Institute and Photo-Medical Research Center, JAEA, Kyoto, 615-0215 Japan
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20
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Willingale L, Nagel SR, Thomas AGR, Bellei C, Clarke RJ, Dangor AE, Heathcote R, Kaluza MC, Kamperidis C, Kneip S, Krushelnick K, Lopes N, Mangles SPD, Nazarov W, Nilson PM, Najmudin Z. Characterization of high-intensity laser propagation in the relativistic transparent regime through measurements of energetic proton beams. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2009; 102:125002. [PMID: 19392290 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.102.125002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2008] [Revised: 01/11/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Experiments were performed to investigate the propagation of a high intensity (I approximately 10(21) W cm(-2)) laser in foam targets with densities ranging from 0.9n(c) to 30n(c). Proton acceleration was used to diagnose the interaction. An improvement in proton beam energy and efficiency is observed for the lowest density foam (n(e)=0.9n(c)), compared to higher density foams. Simulations show that the laser beam penetrates deeper into the target due to its relativistic propagation and results in greater collimation of the ensuing hot electrons. This results in the rear surface accelerating electric field being larger, increasing the efficiency of the acceleration. Enhanced collimation of the ions is seen to be due to the self-generated azimuthal magnetic and electric fields at the rear of the target.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Willingale
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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21
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Centurion M, Reckenthaeler P, Krausz F, Fill EE. Picosecond imaging of low-density plasmas by electron deflectometry. OPTICS LETTERS 2009; 34:539-541. [PMID: 19373367 DOI: 10.1364/ol.34.000539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We have imaged optical-field ionized plasmas with electron densities as low as 10(13) cm(-3) on a picosecond timescale using ultrashort electron pulses. Electric fields generated by the separation of charges are imprinted on a 20 keV probe electron pulse and reveal a cloud of electrons expanding away from a positively charged plasma core. Our method allows for a direct measurement of the electron energy required to escape the plasma and the total charge. Simulations reproduce the main features of the experiment and allow determination of the energy of the electrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Centurion
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
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22
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He MQ, Dong QL, Sheng ZM, Weng SM, Chen M, Wu HC, Zhang J. Acceleration dynamics of ions in shocks and solitary waves driven by intense laser pulses. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2007; 76:035402. [PMID: 17930299 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.76.035402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2007] [Revised: 07/09/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The acceleration of ions in collisionless electrostatic shocks and solitary waves, driven by ultrashort intense laser pulses in a thin solid target under different conditions, is investigated theoretically. When a shock is formed, ions with certain initial velocities inside the target can be accelerated by the electrostatic field at the shock front to twice the shock speed. When a solitary wave is formed, only ions located at the rear surface of the target can be accelerated by the solitary wave together with the sheath field formed there.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Qing He
- Beijing National Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing 100080, China
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23
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Willingale L, Mangles SPD, Nilson PM, Clarke RJ, Dangor AE, Kaluza MC, Karsch S, Lancaster KL, Mori WB, Najmudin Z, Schreiber J, Thomas AGR, Wei MS, Krushelnick K. Collimated multi-MeV ion beams from high-intensity laser interactions with underdense plasma. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2006; 96:245002. [PMID: 16907250 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.96.245002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2005] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
A beam of multi-MeV helium ions has been observed from the interaction of a short-pulse high-intensity laser pulse with underdense helium plasma. The ion beam was found to have a maximum energy for He2+ of (40(+3)(-8)) MeV and was directional along the laser propagation path, with the highest energy ions being collimated to a cone of less than 10 degrees. 2D particle-in-cell simulations show that the ions are accelerated by a sheath electric field that is produced at the back of the gas target. This electric field is generated by transfer of laser energy to a hot electron beam, which exits the target generating large space-charge fields normal to its boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Willingale
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom
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24
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Li YT, Sheng ZM, Ma YY, Jin Z, Zhang J, Chen ZL, Kodama R, Matsuoka T, Tampo M, Tanaka KA, Tsutsumi T, Yabuuchi T, Du K, Zhang HQ, Zhang L, Tang YJ. Demonstration of bulk acceleration of ions in ultraintense laser interactions with low-density foams. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2005; 72:066404. [PMID: 16486067 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.72.066404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2004] [Revised: 02/22/2005] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Ion acceleration inside low-density foams irradiated by ultraintense laser pulses has been studied experimentally and theoretically. It is found that the ion generation is closely correlated with the suppressed hot electron transport inside the foams. Particle-in-cell simulations suggest that localized electrostatic fields with multi peaks around the surfaces of lamellar layers inside the foams are induced. These fields inhibit hot electron transport and meanwhile accelerate ions inside the foams, forming a bulk acceleration in contrast to the surface acceleration at the front and rear sides of a thin solid target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y T Li
- Laboratory of Optical Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, People's Republic of China
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25
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Macchi A, Cattani F, Liseykina TV, Cornolti F. Laser acceleration of ion bunches at the front surface of overdense plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2005; 94:165003. [PMID: 15904236 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.94.165003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2004] [Revised: 01/31/2005] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The acceleration of ions in the interaction of high intensity laser pulses with overdense plasmas is investigated with particle-in-cell simulations. For circular polarization of the laser pulses, high-density ion bunches moving into the plasma are generated at the laser-plasma interaction surface. A simple analytical model accounts for the numerical observations and provides scaling laws for the ion bunch energy and generation time as a function of pulse intensity and plasma density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Macchi
- Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia and POLYLAB, Dipartimento di Fisica E. Fermi, Università di Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
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