Projects per year
Abstract
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.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 724 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Feb 2018 |
Keywords
- laser-plasma
- ion energies
- ion beams
- proton acceleration
- superthermal electrons
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Profiles
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
Datasets
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Data for: "Near-100 MeV protons via a laser-driven transparency-enhanced hybrid acceleration scheme"
Higginson, A. (Creator), McKenna, P. (Creator) & King, M. (Creator), University of Strathclyde, 26 Feb 2018
DOI: 10.15129/5f3448cf-6737-4e21-ae69-742ab8d8631c
Dataset