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Title: Laser-driven ion acceleration with hollow laser beams

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4905638· OSTI ID:22408017
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  1. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, 60323 Frankfurt (Germany)
  2. GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt (Germany)
  3. Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328 Dresden (Germany)
  4. Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64277 Darmstadt (Germany)

The laser-driven acceleration of protons from thin foils irradiated by hollow high-intensity laser beams in the regime of target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) is reported for the first time. The use of hollow beams aims at reducing the initial emission solid angle of the TNSA source, due to a flattening of the electron sheath at the target rear side. The experiments were conducted at the PHELIX laser facility at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH with laser intensities in the range from 10{sup 18} W cm{sup −2} to 10{sup 20} W cm{sup −2}. We observed an average reduction of the half opening angle by (3.07±0.42)° or (13.2±2.0)% when the targets have a thickness between 12 μm and 14 μm. In addition, the highest proton energies were achieved with the hollow laser beam in comparison to the typical Gaussian focal spot.

OSTI ID:
22408017
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English