Evidence of resonant surface-wave excitation in the relativistic regime through measurements of proton acceleration from grating targets

0439254 - FZÚ 2015 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Ceccotti, T. - Floquet, V. - Sgattoni, A. - Bigongiari, A. - Klimo, Ondřej - Raynaud, M. - Riconda, C. - Heron, A. - Baffigi, F. - Labate, L. - Gizzi, L.A. - Vassura, L. - Fuchs, J. - Passoni, M. - Květoň, M. - Novotný, F. - Possolt, M. - Prokůpek, Jan - Proška, J. - Pšikal, Jan - Štolcová, Lucie - Velyhan, Andriy - Bougeard, M. - D'Oliveira, P. - Tcherbakoff, O. - Réau, F. - Martin, P. - Macchi, A.
Evidence of resonant surface-wave excitation in the relativistic regime through measurements of proton acceleration from grating targets.
Physical Review Letters. Roč. 111, č. 18 (2013), "185001-1"-"185001-5". ISSN 0031-9007. E-ISSN 1079-7114
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT ED1.1.00/02.0061; GA MŠMT EE.2.3.20.0087
Grant - others:ELI Beamlines(XE) CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0061; OP VK 2 LaserGen(XE) CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0087
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : laser irradiation * plasma mirror * intense * pulses * generation * energy
Subject RIV: BE - Theoretical Physics
Impact factor: 7.728, year: 2013

The interaction of laser pulses with thin grating targets, having a periodic groove at the irradiated surface, is experimentally investigated. Ultrahigh contrast ( 1012) pulses allow us to demonstrate an enhanced laser-target coupling for the first time in the relativistic regime of ultrahigh intensity >1019 W=cm2. A maximum increase by a factor of 2.5 of the cutoff energy of protons produced by target normal sheath acceleration is observed with respect to plane targets, around the incidence angle expected for the resonant excitation of surface waves. A significant enhancement is also observed for small angles of incidence, out of resonance.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0242568