Laser plasma proton acceleration experiments using foam-covered and grating targets

Year: 2013

Authors: Sgattoni A., Ceccotti T., Floquet V., Bigongiari A., Raynaud M., Riconda C., Baffigi F., Labate L., Gizzi LA., Vassura L., Fuchs J., Klimo O., Kveton M., Novotny F., Possolt M., Prokupek J., Proska J., Psikal J., Stolcova L., Velyhan A., Bougeard M., Martinc P., Prencipe I., Zani A., Dellasega D., Macchi A., Passoni M.

Autors Affiliation: Department of Energy, Milan University of Technology (Politecnico), Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, CNR, research unit ”Adriano Gozzini”, Pisa, Italy; CEA, IRAMIS, Service des Photons Atomes et Molecules, Gif-sur-Yvette, France LULI, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, CEA, Paris, France; CEA/DSM/LSI, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France; LULI, UMR7605, CNRS-CEA-Ecole Polytechnique-Paris 6, Palaiseau, France; FNSPE, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Physics, University of Pisa, Italy

Abstract: Experimental results are reported for two different configurations of laser driven ion acceleration using solid foils with a structured layer on the irradiated side, aiming to improve the laser-target coupling by exploiting engineered surfaces. Two experimental campaigns have been performed exploiting a 100TW 25fs Ti:Sa laser capable of maximum intensity of 4.10(19) W/cm(2). “Grating” targets have been manufactured by engraving thin mylar foils (0.9, 20 and 40 mu m) with a regular modulation having 1.6 mu m period and 0.5 mu m depth. The periodicity of the grating corresponds to a resonant incident angle of 30 degrees for the excitation of surface waves. Considering a target of 20 mu m and changing the angle of incidence from 10 degrees to 45 degrees, a broad maximum in the proton energy cut-off was observed around the resonant angle (about 5 MeV) which was more than a factor two higher than the case of planar target. “Foam” targets have been manufactured by depositing a porous 10 mu m nanostructured carbon film with an average density of 1-5 mg/cm(3) on a 1 mu m thick aluminium foil. At maximum focalization the foam targets gave a maximum proton energy similar to the case of bare aluminium target (about 6 MeV), while educing the intensity the presence of the foam enhanced the maximum proton energy, obtaining about 1.5MeV vs. 500KeV at an intensity of 5. 10(16) W/cm(2). 2D Particle-In-Cell simulations have been used to support the intepretation of the experimental results.

Journal/Review: PROCEEDINGS OF SPIE

Volume: 8779      Pages from: 87790L  to: 87790L

KeyWords: Laser-Plasma interaction; Ion acceleration;
DOI: 10.1117/12.2017449

Citations: 1
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