Collimated multi-MeV ion beams from high-intensity laser interactions with underdense plasma

Willingale, L and Mangles, SPD and Nilson, PM and Clarke, RJ and Dangor, AE and Kaluza, MC and Karsch, S and Lancaster, KL and Mori, WB and Najmudin, Z and Schreiber, J and Thomas, Alec and Wei, MS and Krushelnick, K (2006) Collimated multi-MeV ion beams from high-intensity laser interactions with underdense plasma. Physical review letters, 96 (24): 245002. ISSN 1079-7114

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Abstract

A beam of multi-MeV helium ions has been observed from the interaction of a short-pulse high-intensity laser pulse with underdense helium plasma. The ion beam was found to have a maximum energy for He2+ of (40(-8)(+3)) MeV and was directional along the laser propagation path, with the highest energy ions being collimated to a cone of less than 10 degrees. 2D particle-in-cell simulations show that the ions are accelerated by a sheath electric field that is produced at the back of the gas target. This electric field is generated by transfer of laser energy to a hot electron beam, which exits the target generating large space-charge fields normal to its boundary.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Physical review letters
Additional Information:
© 2006 American Physical Society
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3100
Subjects:
?? proton-beamsaccelerationgenerationpetawattsolidsphysics and astronomy(all) ??
ID Code:
79657
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
19 May 2016 13:48
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:41