Enhanced laser ion acceleration from mass-limited foils

Journal Article · Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3519512· OSTI ID:21532107

Kluge, T; Kraft, S D; Schramm, U; Zeil, K; Cowan, T E; Bussmann, M ^[1]; Enghardt, W ^[2]

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1. Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., D-01328 Dresden (Germany)
2. OncoRay-Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, D-01307 Dresden (Germany)

This paper reports on simulations of solid mass-limited targets (MLT) via electrodynamic two-dimensional, three velocity component particle-in-cell simulations. The interaction with long (300 fs) high intensity (10{sup 20} W/cm{sup 2}) laser pulses with targets of diameter down to 1 {mu}m is described in detail with respect to electron dynamics and proton and ion acceleration. Depending on the foil diameter, different effects consecutively arise. Electrons laterally recirculate within the target, smoothening the target rear accelerating sheath and increasing the hot electron density and temperature. Our results suggest that the most significant ion energy enhancement should be expected for MLT with diameter below the laser focal spot size. The spread of energetic protons is decreased for medium sized foils while it is greatly increased for foils of size near the focal spot size.

• OSTI ID: 21532107
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3519512; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ACCELERATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
FOILS
ION TEMPERATURE
IONS
LASERS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
PROTONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
BARYONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
NUCLEONS
SIMULATION