Laser-driven ion acceleration from near-critical Gaussian plasma density profile

0547166 - FZÚ 2022 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Pšikal, Jan
Laser-driven ion acceleration from near-critical Gaussian plasma density profile.
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. Roč. 63, č. 6 (2021), č. článku 064002. ISSN 0741-3335. E-ISSN 1361-6587
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA18-09560S; GA MŠMT(CZ) LM2018141
Research Infrastructure: e-INFRA CZ - 90140; ELI Beamlines III - 90141
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : ultrashort laser pulse * ion acceleration * near-critical density plasma * particle-in-cell simulation
OECD category: Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics)
Impact factor: 2.532, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/abf448

In this paper, we report on multiple phases of efficient laser-driven ion acceleration from near-critical density plasma of Gaussian density profile. Tracking of high-energy accelerated ions in multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations reveals the development of accelerating fields affecting the particles and the contribution of each acceleration phase to final ion energies. While the acceleration of ions occurs in a short time interval when a steep (infinite) density gradient is present, the accelerating field affecting the most energetic ions has unexpected local maxima about 50 fs after the moment when ultrashort (30 fs) laser pulse completely left the target with smooth density gradients.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0324608