Laser ion acceleration using a solid target coupled with a low-density layer

Year: 2012

Authors: Sgattoni A., Londrillo P., Macchi A., Passoni M.

Autors Affiliation: Dipartimento di Energia, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 34/3, I-20133 Milan, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR/INO), Research Unit “Adriano Gozzini,” Pisa, Italy; INAF Bologna Osservatorio Astronomico, Via Ranzani 1, I-40127 Bologna, Italy; INFN sezione di Bologna, viale Berti Pichat 6/2, I-40127 Bologna, Italy; Department of Physics “Enrico Fermi,” University of Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: We investigate by particle-in-cell simulations in two and three dimensions the laser-plasma interaction and the proton acceleration in multilayer targets where a low-density (\”near-critical\”) layer of a few-micron thickness is added on the illuminated side of a thin, high-density layer. This target design can be obtained by depositing a \”foam\” layer on a thin metallic foil. The presence of the near-critical plasma strongly increases both the conversion efficiency and the energy of electrons and leads to enhanced acceleration of protons from a rear side layer via the target normal sheath acceleration mechanism. The electrons of the foam are strongly accelerated in the forward direction and propagate on the rear side of the target, building up a high electric field with a relatively flat longitudinal profile. In these conditions the maximum proton energy is up to three times higher than in the case of the bare solid target.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW E

Volume: 85 (3)      Pages from: 36405-1  to: 36405-9

More Information: We acknowledge the CINECA Grant No. N.HP10A25JKT-2010 (ISCRA TOFUSEX project) for the availability of high-performance computing resources and support. We acknowledge the support of the Italian Ministry for Education, Universities and Research specifically for the FIRB (Futuro in Ricerca) project SULDIS. This work has been performed under the auspices of the INFN LILIA project. We also acknowledge the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), in the framework of the bilateral agreement between Italy and Japan for the study of proton acceleration with interests for biomedical applications.
KeyWords: Beam plasma interactions; Conversion efficiency; Electric fields
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.85.036405

Citations: 88
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