Laser-driven ion acceleration via target normal sheath acceleration in the relativistic transparency regime

Poole, P. L.; Obst, L.; Cochran, G. E.; Metzkes, J.; Schlenvoigt, H-P; Prencipe, I.; Kluge, T.; Cowan, T.; Schramm, U.; Schumacher, D. W.; Zeil, K.

doi:10.1088/1367-2630/aa9d47

Title: Laser-driven ion acceleration via target normal sheath acceleration in the relativistic transparency regime

Journal Article · 11 January 2018 · New Journal of Physics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aa9d47 · OSTI ID:1437769

^[1];

^[2];

^[3]; Metzkes, J. ^[4]; Schlenvoigt, H-P ^[4]; Prencipe, I. ^[4]; Kluge, T. ^[4]; Cowan, T. ^[2];

^[2]; Schumacher, D. W. ^[3]; Zeil, K. ^[4]

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany); Technische Univ. Dresden (Germany)
The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden (Germany)

Here we present an experimental study investigating laser-driven proton acceleration via target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) over a target thickness range spanning the typical TNSA-dominant regime (~1 μm) down to below the onset of relativistic laser-transparency (<40 nm). This is done with a single target material in the form of freely adjustable films of liquid crystals along with high contrast (via plasma mirror) laser interaction (~2.65 J, 30 fs, I>1 x 10²¹ W cm^-2). Thickness dependent maximum proton energies scale well with TNSA models down to the thinnest targets, while those under ~40 nm indicate the influence of relativistic transparency on TNSA, observed via differences in light transmission, maximum proton energy, and proton beam spatial profile. Oblique laser incidence (45°) allowed the fielding of numerous diagnostics to determine the interaction quality and details: ion energy and spatial distribution was measured along the laser axis and both front and rear target normal directions; these along with reflected and transmitted light measurements on-shot verify TNSA as dominant during high contrast interaction, even for ultra-thin targets. Additionally, 3D particle-in-cell simulations qualitatively support the experimental observations of target-normal-directed proton acceleration from ultra-thin films.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344; NA0003107

OSTI ID:: 1437769

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1430977; OSTI ID: 1515025

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-733302; TRN: US1802768

Journal Information:: New Journal of Physics, Vol. 20, Issue 1; ISSN 1367-2630

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 49 works

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Title: Laser-driven ion acceleration via target normal sheath acceleration in the relativistic transparency regime

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