Effects of front surface plasma expansion on proton acceleration in ultraintense laser irradiation of foil targets

P. McKenna; D.C. Carroll; O. Lundh; F. Nurnberg; K. Markey; S. Bandyopadhyay; D. Batani; R.G. Evans; R. Jafer; S. Kar; D. Neely; D. Pepler; M.N. Quinn; R. Redaelli; M. Roth; C.G. Wahlström; X.H. Yuan; M. Zepf

doi:10.1017/S0263034608000657

Effects of front surface plasma expansion on proton acceleration in ultraintense laser irradiation of foil targets

P. McKenna, D.C. Carroll, O. Lundh, F. Nurnberg, K. Markey, S. Bandyopadhyay, D. Batani, R.G. Evans, R. Jafer, S. Kar, D. Neely, D. Pepler, M.N. Quinn, R. Redaelli, M. Roth, C.G. Wahlström, X.H. Yuan, M. Zepf

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Abstract

The properties of beams of high energy protons accelerated during ultraintense, picosecond laser-irradiation of thin foil targets are investigated as a function of preplasma expansion at the target front surface. Significant enhancement in the maximum proton energy and laser-to-proton energy conversion efficiency is observed at optimum preplasma density gradients, due to self-focusing of the incident laser pulse. For very long preplasma expansion, the propagating laser pulse is observed to filament, resulting in highly uniform proton beams, but with reduced flux and maximum energy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	591-596
Number of pages	5
Journal	Laser and Particle Beams
Volume	26
Issue number	4
Early online date	4 Nov 2008
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263034608000657
Publication status	Published - 31 Dec 2008

Keywords

laser-plasma interaction
laser-proton acceleration
plasma expansion

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10.1017/S0263034608000657

Mckenna-etal-LPB2008-surface-plasma-proton-acceleration-ultraintense-laser.pdfFinal published version, 252 KB

KEY PHYSICS FOR INERTIAL CONFINEMENT DIAGNOSED BY ION EMISSION
McKenna, P. (Principal Investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/10/07 → 30/09/11
Project: Research

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McKenna, P., Carroll, D. C., Lundh, O., Nurnberg, F., Markey, K., Bandyopadhyay, S., Batani, D., Evans, R. G., Jafer, R., Kar, S., Neely, D., Pepler, D., Quinn, M. N., Redaelli, R., Roth, M., Wahlström, C. G., Yuan, X. H., & Zepf, M. (2008). Effects of front surface plasma expansion on proton acceleration in ultraintense laser irradiation of foil targets. Laser and Particle Beams, 26(4), 591-596. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263034608000657

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title = "Effects of front surface plasma expansion on proton acceleration in ultraintense laser irradiation of foil targets",

abstract = "The properties of beams of high energy protons accelerated during ultraintense, picosecond laser-irradiation of thin foil targets are investigated as a function of preplasma expansion at the target front surface. Significant enhancement in the maximum proton energy and laser-to-proton energy conversion efficiency is observed at optimum preplasma density gradients, due to self-focusing of the incident laser pulse. For very long preplasma expansion, the propagating laser pulse is observed to filament, resulting in highly uniform proton beams, but with reduced flux and maximum energy.",

keywords = "laser-plasma interaction, laser-proton acceleration, plasma expansion",

author = "P. McKenna and D.C. Carroll and O. Lundh and F. Nurnberg and K. Markey and S. Bandyopadhyay and D. Batani and R.G. Evans and R. Jafer and S. Kar and D. Neely and D. Pepler and M.N. Quinn and R. Redaelli and M. Roth and C.G. Wahlstr{\"o}m and X.H. Yuan and M. Zepf",

year = "2008",

month = dec,

day = "31",

doi = "10.1017/S0263034608000657",

language = "English",

volume = "26",

pages = "591--596",

journal = "Laser and Particle Beams",

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McKenna, P, Carroll, DC, Lundh, O, Nurnberg, F, Markey, K, Bandyopadhyay, S, Batani, D, Evans, RG, Jafer, R, Kar, S, Neely, D, Pepler, D, Quinn, MN, Redaelli, R, Roth, M, Wahlström, CG, Yuan, XH & Zepf, M 2008, 'Effects of front surface plasma expansion on proton acceleration in ultraintense laser irradiation of foil targets', Laser and Particle Beams, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 591-596. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263034608000657

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of front surface plasma expansion on proton acceleration in ultraintense laser irradiation of foil targets

AU - McKenna, P.

AU - Carroll, D.C.

AU - Lundh, O.

AU - Nurnberg, F.

AU - Markey, K.

AU - Bandyopadhyay, S.

AU - Batani, D.

AU - Evans, R.G.

AU - Jafer, R.

AU - Kar, S.

AU - Neely, D.

AU - Pepler, D.

AU - Quinn, M.N.

AU - Redaelli, R.

AU - Roth, M.

AU - Wahlström, C.G.

AU - Yuan, X.H.

AU - Zepf, M.

PY - 2008/12/31

Y1 - 2008/12/31

N2 - The properties of beams of high energy protons accelerated during ultraintense, picosecond laser-irradiation of thin foil targets are investigated as a function of preplasma expansion at the target front surface. Significant enhancement in the maximum proton energy and laser-to-proton energy conversion efficiency is observed at optimum preplasma density gradients, due to self-focusing of the incident laser pulse. For very long preplasma expansion, the propagating laser pulse is observed to filament, resulting in highly uniform proton beams, but with reduced flux and maximum energy.

AB - The properties of beams of high energy protons accelerated during ultraintense, picosecond laser-irradiation of thin foil targets are investigated as a function of preplasma expansion at the target front surface. Significant enhancement in the maximum proton energy and laser-to-proton energy conversion efficiency is observed at optimum preplasma density gradients, due to self-focusing of the incident laser pulse. For very long preplasma expansion, the propagating laser pulse is observed to filament, resulting in highly uniform proton beams, but with reduced flux and maximum energy.

KW - laser-plasma interaction

KW - laser-proton acceleration

KW - plasma expansion

U2 - 10.1017/S0263034608000657

DO - 10.1017/S0263034608000657

M3 - Article

SN - 0263-0346

VL - 26

SP - 591

EP - 596

JO - Laser and Particle Beams

JF - Laser and Particle Beams

IS - 4

ER -

Effects of front surface plasma expansion on proton acceleration in ultraintense laser irradiation of foil targets

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Keywords

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