Direct Experimental Evidence of Back-Surface Acceleration from Laser-Irradiated Foils
Au foils were irradiated with a 100-TW, 100-fs laser at intensities greater than 10{sup 20} W/cm{sup 2} producing proton beams with a total yield of {approx} 10{sup 11} and maximum proton energy of > 9 MeV. Removing contamination from the back surface of Au foils with an Ar-ion sputter gun reduced the total yield of accelerated protons to less than 1% of the yield observed without removing contamination. Removing contamination the front surface (laser-interaction side) of the target had no observable effect on the proton beam. We present a one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation that models the experiment. Both experimental and simulation results are consistent with the back-surface acceleration mechanism described in the text.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 15011609
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JRNL-204170; TRN: US0501309
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Vol. 93; Other Information: Journal published December 31, 2004; PBD: 29 Mar 2004
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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