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Title: Laser-driven ion acceleration via target normal sheath acceleration in the relativistic transparency regime

Journal Article · · New Journal of Physics

We present an experimental study investigating laser-driven proton acceleration via target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) over a target thickness range spanning the typical TNSA-dominant regime (~1 μm) down to below the onset of relativistic laser-transparency (<40 nm). This is done with a single target material in the form of freely adjustable films of liquid crystals along with high contrast (via plasmamirror) laser interaction (~2.65 J, 30 fs, I > 1 ´ 1021Wcm-2). Thickness dependent maximum proton energies scale well with TNSA models down to the thinnest targets, while those under ~40 nmindicate the influence of relativistic transparency on TNSA, observed via differences in light transmission, maximum proton energy, and proton beam spatial profile. Oblique laser incidence (45°) allowed the fielding of numerous diagnostics to determine the interaction quality and details: ion energy and spatial distribution was measured along the laser axis and both front and rear target normal directions; these along with reflected and transmitted light measurements on-shot verify TNSA as dominant during high contrast interaction, even for ultra-thin targets. Additionally, 3D particle-incell simulations qualitatively support the experimental observations of target-normal-directed proton acceleration from ultra-thin films.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003107; AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1437769
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1430977; OSTI ID: 1515025
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-733302
Journal Information:
New Journal of Physics, Journal Name: New Journal of Physics Vol. 20 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 1367-2630
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 44 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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  • Bulanov, S. V.
  • THE PHYSICS OF IONIZED GASES: 22nd Summer School and International Symposium on the Physics of Ionized Gases; Invited Lectures, Topical Invited Lectures and Progress Reports, AIP Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1843524
conference January 2004
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Cited By (6)

All-optical structuring of laser-driven proton beam profiles journal December 2018
Target fabrication for laser-ion acceleration research at the Technological Laboratory of the LMU Munich journal May 2019
On-shot characterization of single plasma mirror temporal contrast improvement journal March 2018
Enhanced electron acceleration in aligned nanowire arrays irradiated at highly relativistic intensities journal November 2019
Characteristics of ion beams generated in the interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with ultra-thin foils text January 2020
Radiation Pressure-Driven Plasma Surface Dynamics in Ultra-Intense Laser Pulse Interactions with Ultra-Thin Foils journal February 2018

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