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Title: Hybrid proton acceleration scheme using relativistic intense laser light

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4796053· OSTI ID:22107712
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [4]
  1. Max-Born-Institute, Berlin D-12489 (Germany)
  2. Vavilov State Optical Institute, St. Petersburg 199064 (Russian Federation)
  3. Institute fuer Laser und Plasma Physik, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf D-40225 (Germany)
  4. ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure, Institute of Physics, 18221 Prague (Czech Republic)

Ion acceleration phenomena at relativistic intense laser interaction with thin foil targets are studied to find an efficient laser-target interaction concept at the conditions, where neither the ponderomotive pressure of the laser light nor the hot electron pressure is negligible. Particle in cell simulations and the analytical model are allowing to predict optimum laser-target parameters and suggesting a significant increase of proton energy if a hybrid proton acceleration scheme is used. In the proposed scenario, the laser polarisation is changed during the acceleration process: First with circularly polarised laser light the target is accelerated as a whole by the ponderamotive pressure, and then with linearly polarised laser light the electrons are heated which additionally increases the accelerating field. The calculations are in good agreement with experimental findings.

OSTI ID:
22107712
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English