Abstract
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 724 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Nature Communications |
| Volume | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Feb 2018 |
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Keywords
- laser-plasma
- ion energies
- ion beams
- proton acceleration
- superthermal electrons
Cite this
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Near-100 MeV protons via a laser-driven transparency-enhanced hybrid acceleration scheme. / Higginson, A.; Gray, R. J.; King, M.; Dance, R. J.; Williamson, S. D. R.; Butler, N. M. H.; Wilson, R.; Capdessus, R.; Armstrong, C.; Green, J. S.; Hawkes, S. J.; Martin, P.; Wei, W. Q.; Mirfayzi, S. R.; Yuan, X. H.; Kar, S.; Borghesi, M.; Clarke, R. J.; Neely, D.; McKenna, P.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 9, 724, 20.02.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Near-100 MeV protons via a laser-driven transparency-enhanced hybrid acceleration scheme
AU - Higginson, A.
AU - Gray, R. J.
AU - King, M.
AU - Dance, R. J.
AU - Williamson, S. D. R.
AU - Butler, N. M. H.
AU - Wilson, R.
AU - Capdessus, R.
AU - Armstrong, C.
AU - Green, J. S.
AU - Hawkes, S. J.
AU - Martin, P.
AU - Wei, W. Q.
AU - Mirfayzi, S. R.
AU - Yuan, X. H.
AU - Kar, S.
AU - Borghesi, M.
AU - Clarke, R. J.
AU - Neely, D.
AU - McKenna, P.
PY - 2018/2/20
Y1 - 2018/2/20
N2 - The range of potential applications of compact laser-plasma ion sources motivates the development of new acceleration schemes to increase achievable ion energies and conversion efficiencies. Whilst the evolving nature of laser-plasma interactions can limit the effectiveness of individual acceleration mechanisms, it can also enable the development of hybrid schemes, allowing additional degrees of control on the properties of the resulting ion beam. Here we report on an experimental demonstration of efficient proton acceleration to energies exceeding 94 MeV via a hybrid scheme of radiation pressure-sheath acceleration in an ultrathin foil irradiated by a linearly polarized laser pulse. This occurs via a double-peaked electrostatic field structure, which, at an optimum foil thickness, is significantly enhanced by relativistic transparency and an associated jet of superthermal electrons. The range of parameters over which this hybrid scenario occurs is discussed and implications for ion acceleration driven by next generation, multi-petawatt laser facilities are explored.
AB - The range of potential applications of compact laser-plasma ion sources motivates the development of new acceleration schemes to increase achievable ion energies and conversion efficiencies. Whilst the evolving nature of laser-plasma interactions can limit the effectiveness of individual acceleration mechanisms, it can also enable the development of hybrid schemes, allowing additional degrees of control on the properties of the resulting ion beam. Here we report on an experimental demonstration of efficient proton acceleration to energies exceeding 94 MeV via a hybrid scheme of radiation pressure-sheath acceleration in an ultrathin foil irradiated by a linearly polarized laser pulse. This occurs via a double-peaked electrostatic field structure, which, at an optimum foil thickness, is significantly enhanced by relativistic transparency and an associated jet of superthermal electrons. The range of parameters over which this hybrid scenario occurs is discussed and implications for ion acceleration driven by next generation, multi-petawatt laser facilities are explored.
KW - laser-plasma
KW - ion energies
KW - ion beams
KW - proton acceleration
KW - superthermal electrons
UR - https://www.nature.com/ncomms/
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-018-03063-9
DO - 10.1038/s41467-018-03063-9
M3 - Article
VL - 9
JO - Nature Communications
T2 - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
M1 - 724
ER -