Proton acceleration by irradiation of isolated spheres with an intense laser pulse

Ostermayr, T. M.; Haffa, D.; Hilz, P.; Pauw, V.; Allinger, K.; Bamberg, K. -U.; Böhl, P.; Bömer, C.; Bolton, P. R.; Deutschmann, F.; Ditmire, T.; Donovan, M. E.; Dyer, G.; Gaul, E.; Gordon, J.; Hegelich, B. M.; Kiefer, D.; Klier, C.; Kreuzer, C.; Martinez, M.; McCary, E.; Meadows, A. R.; Moschüring, N.; Rösch, T.; Ruhl, H.; Spinks, M.; Wagner, C.; Schreiber, J.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.94.033208

Title: Proton acceleration by irradiation of isolated spheres with an intense laser pulse

Journal Article · Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physical Review E

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.94.033208· OSTI ID:1326698

Ostermayr, T. M.; Haffa, D.; Hilz, P.; Pauw, V.; Allinger, K.; Bamberg, K. -U.; Böhl, P.; Bömer, C.; Bolton, P. R.; Deutschmann, F.; Ditmire, T.; Donovan, M. E.; Dyer, G.; Gaul, E.; Gordon, J.; Hegelich, B. M.; Kiefer, D.; Klier, C.; Kreuzer, C.; Martinez, M. more »

We report on experiments irradiating isolated plastic spheres with a peak laser intensity of 2–3 × 10²⁰ W cm^–2. With a laser focal spot size of 10 μm full width half maximum (FWHM) the sphere diameter was varied between 520 nm and 19.3 μm. Maximum proton energies of ~ 25 MeV are achieved for targets matching the focal spot size of 10 μm in diameter or being slightly smaller. For smaller spheres the kinetic energy distributions of protons become nonmonotonic, indicating a change in the accelerating mechanism from ambipolar expansion towards a regime dominated by effects caused by Coulomb repulsion of ions. The energy conversion efficiency from laser energy to proton kinetic energy is optimized when the target diameter matches the laser focal spot size with efficiencies reaching the percent level. The change of proton acceleration efficiency with target size can be attributed to the reduced cross-sectional overlap of subfocus targets with the laser. Reported experimental observations are in line with 3D3V particle in cell simulations. In conclusion, they make use of well-defined targets and point out pathways for future applications and experiments.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0002008

OSTI ID:: 1326698

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1435454

Journal Information:: Physical Review E, Journal Name: Physical Review E Vol. 94 Journal Issue: 3; ISSN 2470-0045

Publisher:: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 13 works

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Isolated proton bunch acceleration by a petawatt laser pulse Hilz, P.; Ostermayr, T. M.; Huebl, A. Nature Communications, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02663-1	journal	January 2018
A transportable Paul-trap for levitation and accurate positioning of micron-scale particles in vacuum for laser-plasma experiments Ostermayr, T. M.; Gebhard, J.; Haffa, D. Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 89, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4995955	journal	January 2018

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