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Generation of high-energy protons from the Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters by intense femtosecond laser pulses

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
;  [1]; ; ;  [2]; ; ; ; ;  [3];  [4]
  1. Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji Kyoto 611-0011 (Japan)
  2. Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita Osaka 565-0871 (Japan)
  3. Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita Osaka 565-0871 (Japan)
  4. Institute for Laser Technology, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita Osaka 565-0871 (Japan)
The energy distributions of protons emitted from the Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters by an intense femtosecond laser have been experimentally obtained. Ten thousand hydrogen clusters were exploded, emitting 8.1 keV protons under laser irradiation of intensity 6x10{sup 16} W/cm{sup 2}. The energy distributions are interpreted well by a spherical uniform cluster analytical model. The maximum energy of the emitted protons can be characterized by cluster size and laser intensity. The laser intensity scale for the maximum proton energy, given by a spherical cluster Coulomb-explosion model, is in fairly good agreement with the experimental results obtained at a laser intensity of 10{sup 16}-10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2} and also when extrapolated with the results of three-dimensional particle simulations at 10{sup 20}-10{sup 21} W/cm{sup 2}.
OSTI ID:
20640745
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 69; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English