Ion acceleration in multispecies targets driven by intense laser radiation pressure

Phys Rev Lett. 2012 Nov 2;109(18):185006. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.185006. Epub 2012 Nov 2.

Abstract

The acceleration of ions from ultrathin foils has been investigated by using 250 TW, subpicosecond laser pulses, focused to intensities of up to 3 × 10(20) W cm(-2). The ion spectra show the appearance of narrow-band features for protons and carbon ions peaked at higher energies (in the 5-10 MeV/nucleon range) and with significantly higher flux than previously reported. The spectral features and their scaling with laser and target parameters provide evidence of a multispecies scenario of radiation pressure acceleration in the light sail mode, as confirmed by analytical estimates and 2D particle-in-cell simulations. The scaling indicates that monoenergetic peaks with more than 100 MeV/nucleon are obtainable with moderate improvements of the target and laser characteristics, which are within reach of ongoing technical developments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Computer Simulation
  • Lasers*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Protons
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Protons
  • Carbon