Effects of shock waves on spatial distribution of proton beams in ultrashort laser-foil interactions

Journal Article · Sun Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2358971· OSTI ID:20860338

Xu, M H; Li, Y T; Yu, Q Z; Wang, S J; Zhang, J ^[1]; Yuan, X H ^[1]; Zhao, W ^[2]; Wen, X L; Jiao, C Y; He, Y L; Zhang, S G; Huang, W Z; Gu, Y Q ^[3]; Wang, G C; Wang, X X ^[3]

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1. Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080 (China)
2. State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics Technology, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710068 (China)
3. National Key Laboratory of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900 (China)

The characteristics of proton beam generated in the interaction of an ultrashort laser pulse with a large prepulse with solid foils are experimentally investigated. It is found that the proton beam emitted from the rear surface is not well collimated, and a 'ring-like' structure with some 'burst-like' angular modulation is presented in the spatial distribution. The divergence of the proton beam reduces significantly when the laser intensity is decreased. The 'burst-like' modulation gradually fades out for the thicker target. It is believed that the large divergence angle and the modulated ring structure are caused by the shock wave induced by the large laser prepulse. A one-dimensional hydrodynamic code, MED103, is used to simulate the behavior of the shock wave produced by the prepulse. The simulation indicates that the rear surface of the foil target is significantly modified by the shock wave, consequently resulting in the experimental observations.

• OSTI ID: 20860338
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 13; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
FOILS
LASER RADIATION
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MODULATION
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
PROTON BEAMS
PULSES
SHOCK WAVES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACES