Creation and characterization of warm dense matter isochorically heated by an intense laser-driven proton beam to temperatures exceeding 100 eV

Bailly-Grandvaux, M.; Bolaños, S.; Kim, J.; Saret, J.; McGuffey, C.; Bhutwala, K.; Nilson, P. M.; Filkins, T.; Theobald, W.; Haid, A.; Ivancic, S.; Beg, F. N.

doi:10.1038/s42005-025-02206-x

Creation and characterization of warm dense matter isochorically heated by an intense laser-driven proton beam to temperatures exceeding 100 eV

Journal Article · Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Communications Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02206-x· OSTI ID:2572149

^[1]; Bolaños, S. ^[1]; ^[1]; Saret, J. ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[1]; ^[3]; Filkins, T. ^[3]; Theobald, W. ^[3]; Haid, A. ^[2]; ^[3]; Beg, F. N. ^[1]

University of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, NY (United States)

The warm dense matter (WDM) is an exotic state of matter encountered in inertial confinement implosions for fusion energy, as well as the interiors of giant planets like Jupiter, brown dwarfs, the atmospheres of white dwarfs, neutron star crusts, and newly discovered exo-planets. One efficient way to create WDM is to use protons accelerated by a high-intensity short-pulse laser to isochorically heat dense samples to WDM states. Despite its importance, direct temperature measurements within WDM targets are scarce. This study utilizes an intense proton beam generated by the kilojoule EP laser further focused and guided by a curved foil and cone structure to efficiently heat a thin copper sample. A high-resolution streaked spectrometer tuned to copper K_α fluorescence lines provided bulk temperature measurements every ~2 ps, revealing temperatures exceeding 100 eV in under 50 ps. Particle-in-cell simulations of proton transport and energy deposition closely matched the observed heating dynamics, including transverse temperature gradients revealed by the broadening of K_α lines.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233124CNA000365; NA0003842; NA0004144

OSTI ID:: 2572149

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2573017

Journal Information:: Communications Physics, Journal Name: Communications Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 8; ISSN 2399-3650

Publisher:: Springer NatureCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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