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Title: Influence of target thickness on the generation of high-density ion bunches by ultrashort circularly polarized laser pulses

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2977485· OSTI ID:21269068
 [1]; ; ;  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Institute of Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073 (China)
  2. Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800 (China)
  3. Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 (China)
  4. Institute of Computer Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073 (China)
  5. Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore-452 013 (India)

Ion acceleration by ultrashort circularly polarized laser pulse in a solid-density target is investigated using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. The ions are accelerated and compressed by the continuously extending space-charge field created by the evacuation and compression of the target electrons by the laser light pressure. For a sufficiently thin target, the accelerated and compressed ions can reach and exit from the rear surface as a high-density high-energy ion bunch. The peak ion energy depends on the target thickness and reaches maximum when the compressed ion layer can just reach the rear target surface. The compressed ion layer exhibits lateral striation which can be suppressed by using a sharp-rising laser pulse.

OSTI ID:
21269068
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 15, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2977485; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English