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Title: Laser generated proton beam focusing and high temperature isochoric heating of solid matter

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2774001· OSTI ID:21069835
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]; ; ; ;  [2]; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [3]
  1. University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 14550 (United States)
  2. University of California, Davis, Department of Applied Science, P.O. Box 808, L714, Livermore, California 94552 (United States)
  3. Institute of Laser Energetics, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565 (Japan)

The results of laser-driven proton beam focusing and heating with a high energy (170 J) short pulse are reported. Thin hemispherical aluminum shells are illuminated with the Gekko petawatt laser using 1 {mu}m light at intensities of {approx}3x10{sup 18} W/cm{sup 2} and measured heating of thin Al slabs. The heating pattern is inferred by imaging visible and extreme-ultraviolet light Planckian emission from the rear surface. When Al slabs 100 {mu}m thick were placed at distances spanning the proton focus beam waist, the highest temperatures were produced at 0.94x the hemisphere radius beyond the equatorial plane. Isochoric heating temperatures reached 81 eV in 15 {mu}m thick foils. The heating with a three-dimensional Monte Carlo model of proton transport with self-consistent heating and proton stopping in hot plasma was modeled.

OSTI ID:
21069835
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 14, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2774001; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English