Advanced laser particle accelerator development at LANL: from fast ignition to radiation oncology

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3520414· OSTI ID:1029928

Flippo, Kirk A ^[1]; Gaillard, Sandrine A ^[1]; Offermann, D T ^[1]; Cobble, J A ^[1]; Schmitt, M J ^[1]; Gautier, D C ^[1]; Kwan, T J T ^[1]; Montgomery, D S ^[1]; Kluge, Thomas ^[2]; Bussmann, Micheal ^[2]; Bartal, T ^[3]; Beg, F N ^[3]; Gall, B ^[4]; Geissel, M ^[5]; Korgan, G ^[6]; Kovaleski, S ^[4]; Lockard, T ^[7]; Malekos, S ^[6]; Schollmeier, M ^[5]; Sentoku, Y ^[7] ; Cowan, T E ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. FZD-GERMANY
3. UCSD
4. UNIV OF MISSOURI
5. SNL
6. NANOLABZ
7. UNIV OF NEVADA

Laser-plasma accelerated ion and electron beam sources are an emerging field with vast prospects, and promise many superior applications in a variety of fields such as hadron cancer therapy, compact radioisotope generation, table-top nuclear physics, laboratory astrophysics, nuclear forensics, waste transmutation, SN M detection, and inertial fusion energy. LANL is engaged in several projects seeking to develop compact high current and high energy ion and electron sources. We are especially interested in two specific applications: ion fast ignition/capsule perturbation and radiation oncology in conjunction with our partners at the ForschungsZentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD). Laser-to-beam conversion efficiencies of over 10% are needed for practical applications, and we have already shown inherent etliciencies of >5% from flat foils, on Trident using only a 5th of the intensity and energy of the Nova Petawatt. With clever target designs, like structured curved cone targets, we have also been able to achieve major ion energy gains, leading to the highest energy laser-accelerated proton beams in the world. These new target designs promise to help usher in the next generation of particle sources realizing the potential of laser-accelerated beams.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1029928
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-10-05725; LA-UR-10-5725; TRN: US1105874
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATION
ACCELERATORS
ASTROPHYSICS
CONES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON SOURCES
HADRONS
IGNITION
LASERS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
PARTICLE SOURCES
PLASMA
PROTON BEAMS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
THERAPY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRANSMUTATION
WASTES