High current, high energy proton beams accelerated by a sub-nanosecond laser

0371604 - FZÚ 2012 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Margarone, Daniele - Krása, Josef - Picciotto, A. - Torrisi, L. - Láska, Leoš - Velyhan, Andriy - Prokůpek, Jan - Ryc, L. - Parys, P. - Ullschmied, Jiří - Rus, Bedřich
High current, high energy proton beams accelerated by a sub-nanosecond laser.
Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A. Roč. 653, č. 1 (2011), s. 159-163. ISSN 0168-9002. E-ISSN 1872-9576
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GAP205/11/1165; GA AV ČR IAA100100715; GA MŠMT(CZ) 7E09092
EU Projects: European Commission(XE) 212105 - ELI-PP
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z10100523; CEZ:AV0Z20430508
Keywords : laser-acceleration * proton beam * high ion current * time-of-flight * proton energy distribution
Subject RIV: BH - Optics, Masers, Lasers
Impact factor: 1.207, year: 2011

The sub-nanosecond laser system available at PALS facility in Prague has been used in order to produce MeV proton beams with typical current density approaching 1 A/cm2 at few tens of centimeters from the target surface. The obtained results are promising both in terms of maximum proton energy and fast proton current. Real-time diagnostics systems, mainly in time-of-flight (TOF) configuration, have been used in order to estimate maximum and peak energy of the plasma fast proton component, peak current density, total number of fast protons and conversion efficiency of laser energy into accelerated fast proton total energy. Optimization of the maximum attainable proton energy and current has been carried out by irradiating targets of different composition as well as varying the laser energy and the focal spot diameter. Experimental results, as well as possible applications in material science and nuclear physics, are discussed and compared with literature data.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0205081