On the small divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils

Journal Article · Mon Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4816031· OSTI ID:22227976

Bin, J. H.; Ma, W. J.; Allinger, K.; Kiefer, D.; Khrennikov, K.; Karsch, S.; Krausz, F.; Habs, D.; Schreiber, J. ^[1]; Wang, H. Y. ^[2]; Reinhardt, S.; Hilz, P.; Tajima, T. ^[1]; Yan, X. Q. ^[3]

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1. Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, D-85748 Garching (Germany)
2. Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching (Germany)
3. State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)

We report on experimental studies of divergence of proton beams from nanometer thick diamond-like carbon foils irradiated by a linearly polarized intense laser with high contrast. Proton beams with extremely small divergence (half angle) of 2° are observed in addition with a remarkably well-collimated feature over the whole energy range, showing one order of magnitude reduction of the divergence angle in comparison to the results from μm thick targets. Similar features are reproduced in two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations with parameters representing our experiments, indicating a strong influence from the electron density distribution on the divergence of protons. Our comprehensive experimental study reveals grand opportunities for using nm foils in experiments that require high ion flux and small divergence.

• OSTI ID: 22227976
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 20; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIAMONDS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ION BEAMS
IRRADIATION
LASER TARGETS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PLASMA SIMULATION
PROTON BEAMS
PROTONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS