Design of plasma shutters for improved heavy ion acceleration by ultra-intense laser pulses

0566185 - FZÚ 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Matys, Martin - Bulanov, Sergey V. - Kucharik, M. - Jirka, Martin - Nikl, Jan - Kecová, Mariana - Proška, J. - Pšikal, Jan - Korn, Georg - Klimo, Ondřej
Design of plasma shutters for improved heavy ion acceleration by ultra-intense laser pulses.
New Journal of Physics. Roč. 24, č. 11 (2022), č. článku 113046. ISSN 1367-2630. E-ISSN 1367-2630
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT EF15_003/0000449
Grant - others:OP VVV - HiFi(XE) CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/15_003/0000449
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : ion acceleration * laser-driven * shutter * particle-in-cell simulation * heavy ion * high-Z
OECD category: Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics)
Impact factor: 3.3, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

In this work, we investigate the application of the plasma shutters for heavy ion acceleration driven by a high-intensity laser pulse. We use particle-in-cell and hydrodynamic simulations. The laser pulse, transmitted through the opaque shutter, gains a steep-rising front and its peak intensity is locally increased at the cost of losing part of its energy. These effects have a direct influence on subsequent ion acceleration from the ultrathin target behind the shutter. In our 3D simulations of silicon nitride plasma shutter and a silver target, the maximal energy of high-Z ions increases significantly when the shutter is included for both linearly and circularly polarized laser pulses. Moreover, application of the plasma shutter for linearly polarized pulse results in focusing of ions toward the laser axis in the plane perpendicular to the laser polarization.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0337610