Projects per year
Abstract
A dual ion species plasma expansion scheme from a novel target structure is introduced, in which a nanometer thick layer of pure deuterium exists as a buffer species at the target-vacuum interface of a hydrogen plasma. Modelling shows that by controlling the deuterium layer thickness, a composite H +/D+ ion beam can be produced by TNSA, with an adjustable ratio of ion densities, as high energy proton acceleration is suppressed by the acceleration of a spectrally peaked deuteron beam. Particle in cell modelling shows that a (4.3±0.7) MeV per nucleon deuteron beam is accelerated, in a directional cone of half angle 9◦ . Experimentally, this was investigated using state of the art cryogenic targetry and a spectrally peaked deuteron beam of (3.4±0.7) MeV per nucleon was measured in a cone of half angle 7-9◦ , whilst maintaining a significant TNSA proton component.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 120 |
Issue number | 20 |
Early online date | 18 May 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 18 May 2018 |
Keywords
- dual ion species
- plasma expansion
- target vacuum interface
- TNSA
Projects
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Nonlinear Optics and Dynamics in Relativistically Transparent Plasmas
McKenna, P., Gray, R. & King, M.
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/08/17 → 31/07/21
Project: Research
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Multi-PetaWatt Laser-Plasma Interactions: A New Frontier in Physics
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/03/12 → 28/02/17
Project: Research Fellowship