Active manipulation of the spatial energy distribution of laser-accelerated proton beams

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.76.065401· OSTI ID:21101959

Carroll, D C; McKenna, P; Lundh, O; Lindau, F; Wahlstroem, C -G; Bandyopadhyay, S; Pepler, D; Neely, D; Kar, S; Simpson, P T; Markey, K; Zepf, M; Bellei, C; Evans, R G; Redaelli, R; Batani, D; Xu, M H; Li, Y T ^[1]

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1. SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG (United Kingdom)

The spatial energy distributions of beams of protons accelerated by ultrahigh intensity (>10{sup 19} W/cm{sup 2}) picosecond laser pulse interactions with thin foil targets are investigated. Using separate, low intensity (<10{sup 13} W/cm{sup 2}) nanosecond laser pulses, focused onto the front surface of the target foil prior to the arrival of the high intensity pulse, it is demonstrated that the proton beam profile can be actively manipulated. In particular, results obtained with an annular intensity distribution at the focus of the low intensity beam are presented, showing smooth proton beams with a sharp circular boundary at all energies, which represents a significant improvement in the beam quality compared to irradiation with the picosecond beam alone.

• OSTI ID: 21101959
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print), Vol. 76, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.76.065401; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1539-3755
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ENERGY SPECTRA
FOILS
IRRADIATION
LASERS
PROTON BEAMS
PROTONS
PULSES