Optimizing direct intense-field laser acceleration of ions

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 04:00:00 UTC 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.053814· OSTI ID:22095452

Harman, Zoltan ^[1]; Salamin, Yousef I. ^[1]; Galow, Benjamin J.; Keitel, Christoph H. ^[1]

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1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg (Germany)

The dynamics of ion acceleration in tightly focused laser beams is investigated in relativistic simulations. Studies are performed to find the optimal parameters which maximize the energy gain, beam quality, and flux. The exit ionic kinetic energy and its uncertainty are improved and the number of accelerated particles is increased by orders of magnitude over our earlier results, especially when working with a longer laser wavelength. Laser beams of powers of 0.1-10 petawatts and focused to subwavelength spot radii are shown to directly accelerate protons and bare nuclei of helium, carbon, and oxygen from a few to several hundred MeV/nucleon. Variation of the volume of the initial ionic ensemble, as well as the introduction of a pulse shape on the laser fields, have been investigated and are shown to influence the exit particle kinetic energies only slightly.

• OSTI ID: 22095452
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 84; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
CARBON IONS
HELIUM IONS
ION BEAMS
IONS
KINETIC ENERGY
LASER RADIATION
MEV RANGE
OPTIMIZATION
OXYGEN IONS
PHOTON BEAMS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
VARIATIONS