Back to Search Start Over

Proton acceleration via the TNSA mechanism using a smoothed laser focus

Authors :
M. Afshari
J. Hornung
A. Kleinschmidt
P. Neumayer
D. Bertini
V. Bagnoud
Source :
AIP Advances, Vol 10, Iss 3, Pp 035023-035023-9 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
AIP Publishing LLC, 2020.

Abstract

In this work, we present the results of an experiment aiming at proton acceleration using a focus with a homogeneous intensity distribution, called smoothed focus. To achieve this goal, we implemented a phase plate before the pre-amplifier of the Petawatt High-Energy Laser for Heavy Ion EXperiments laser facility. The phase plate was used for the first time at a high-power short-pulse laser. Demonstrating a low divergent ion beam was the main goal of this work. Numerical simulations using the particle-in-cell code Extendable PIC Open Collaboration estimated a 2–5 times reduction in the angular divergence of the proton beam using a phase plate due to a smoother sheath at the rear side of the target. However, the reduction in the angular divergence was not sensible according to the experimental data. A positive point is that the spectrum of protons that are generated with the smoothed beam is shifted toward lower energies, provided that the laser absorption is kept in check, compared to the Gaussian proton spectrum. Moreover, the number of protons that are generated with the smoothed beam is higher than the ones generated with the Gaussian beam.

Subjects

Subjects :
Physics
QC1-999

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
21583226
Volume :
10
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
AIP Advances
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.3211428bcf9499b911a4213ee72adfb
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5117236