Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Studying and surveying proton acceleration in high power laser interaction with foam targets

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

R. Goodarzi 1
E. Yazdani 2

1 1. Photonics and Quantum Technology Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 1339-14155, Tehran - Iran

2 Department of Physics, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O.Box: 14115-111, Tehran – Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2020.1142
Abstract
Acceleration of high energy charged particles is one of the most important applications of high-power lasers interaction with plasma. Using targets with densities close to critical densities, because of better laser-plasma coupling, the transferred energy from the laser to plasma will be increased. Today, due to the construction of foam-structured targets, with a density close to critical density, it is possible to use such targets in order to study more about the acceleration process of particles with densities close to the critical density. In this paper, using particle simulation in a cell, a realistic form of foam structure of laser interaction with targets has been studied in more detail. The optimal state for porous foam in terms of dimensions and distances between holes is proposed based on the maximum energy of the protons produced after the laser pulse is completed and it is found out that for a foam with a density of 3.6 critical density and 16-micrometer length, the existence of holes with 0.5-micrometer radius and 1.5-micrometers for the distance between the centers can produce protons with 40 MeV energy but if the holes are not in proper conditions, protons’ maximum energy will be decreased about 20 percent relative to the condition without porous foam.

Highlights

1. A. Macchi, M. Borghesi, M. Passoni, Ion acceleration by superintense laser-plasma interaction, Reviews of Modern Physics, 85(2), 751 (2013).

 

2. S.C. Wilks, et al, Energetic proton generation in ultra-intense laser–solid interactions, Physics of Plasmas (1994-present), 8(2), 542-549 (2001).

 

3. A. Macchi, et al, Radiation pressure acceleration of ultrathin foils, New Journal of Physics, 12(4), 045013 (2010).

 

4. L.O. Silva, et al, Proton shock acceleration in laser-plasma interactions, Physical Review Letters, 92(1),  015002 (2004).

 

5. B.M. Hegelich, et al, Spectral properties of laser-accelerated mid-ZMeV∕ u ion beamsa, Physics of Plasmas (1994-present), 12(5), 056314 (2005).

 

6. I. Prencipe, et al, Development of foam-based layered targets for laser-driven ion beam production, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 58(3), 034019 (2016).

 

7. I.J. Kim, et al, Transition of proton energy scaling using an ultrathin target irradiated by linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulses, Physical Review Letters, 111(16), 165003 (2013).

 

8. S. Buffechoux, et al, Hot electrons transverse refluxing in ultraintense laser-solid interactions, Physical Review Letters, 105(1), 015005 (2010).

 

9. D. Margarone, et al, Laser-driven high-energy proton beam with homogeneous spatial profile from a nanosphere target, Physical Review Special Topics-Accelerators and Beams, 18(7), 071304 (2015).

 

10. T. Ceccotti, et al, Proton acceleration with high-intensity ultrahigh-contrast laser pulses, Physical Review Letters, 99(18), 185002 (2007).

 

11. J.H. Bin, et al, Ion acceleration using relativistic pulse shaping in near-critical-density plasmas (2015), Physical Review Letters, 115(6), 064801 (2015).

 

12. T. Nakamura, et al, Interaction of high contrast laser pulse with foam-attached target, Physics of Plasmas (1994-present), 17(11), 113107 (2010).

 

13. A. Sgattoni, et al, Laser ion acceleration using a solid target coupled with a low-density layer, Physical Review E, 85(3), 036405 (2012).

 

14. M. Borghesi, et al, Relativistic channeling of a picosecond laser pulse in a near-critical preformed plasma, Physical Review Letters, 78(5), 879 (1997).

 

15. M. Passoni, et al, Energetic ions at moderate laser intensities using foam-based multi-layered targets, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 56 (4), 045001 (2014).

 

16. D.V. Romanov, et al, Self-Organization of a Plasma due to 3D Evolution of the Weibel Instability, Physical Review Letters, 93(21), 215004 (2004).

 

17. A. Pukhov, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, Relativistic magnetic self-channeling of light in near-critical plasma: three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation, Physical Review Letters, 76(21), 3975 (1996).

 

18. P. Mulser, D. Bauer, High power laser-matter interaction.

Keywords

Laser
Plasma
Near-critical density
Foam
Proton
1. A. Macchi, M. Borghesi, M. Passoni, Ion acceleration by superintense laser-plasma interaction, Reviews of Modern Physics, 85(2), 751 (2013).
 
2. S.C. Wilks, et al, Energetic proton generation in ultra-intense laser–solid interactions, Physics of Plasmas (1994-present), 8(2), 542-549 (2001).
 
3. A. Macchi, et al, Radiation pressure acceleration of ultrathin foils, New Journal of Physics, 12(4), 045013 (2010).
 
4. L.O. Silva, et al, Proton shock acceleration in laser-plasma interactions, Physical Review Letters, 92(1),  015002 (2004).
 
5. B.M. Hegelich, et al, Spectral properties of laser-accelerated mid-ZMeV∕ u ion beamsa, Physics of Plasmas (1994-present), 12(5), 056314 (2005).
 
6. I. Prencipe, et al, Development of foam-based layered targets for laser-driven ion beam production, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 58(3), 034019 (2016).
 
7. I.J. Kim, et al, Transition of proton energy scaling using an ultrathin target irradiated by linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulses, Physical Review Letters, 111(16), 165003 (2013).
 
8. S. Buffechoux, et al, Hot electrons transverse refluxing in ultraintense laser-solid interactions, Physical Review Letters, 105(1), 015005 (2010).
 
9. D. Margarone, et al, Laser-driven high-energy proton beam with homogeneous spatial profile from a nanosphere target, Physical Review Special Topics-Accelerators and Beams, 18(7), 071304 (2015).
 
10. T. Ceccotti, et al, Proton acceleration with high-intensity ultrahigh-contrast laser pulses, Physical Review Letters, 99(18), 185002 (2007).
 
11. J.H. Bin, et al, Ion acceleration using relativistic pulse shaping in near-critical-density plasmas (2015), Physical Review Letters, 115(6), 064801 (2015).
 
12. T. Nakamura, et al, Interaction of high contrast laser pulse with foam-attached target, Physics of Plasmas (1994-present), 17(11), 113107 (2010).
 
13. A. Sgattoni, et al, Laser ion acceleration using a solid target coupled with a low-density layer, Physical Review E, 85(3), 036405 (2012).
 
14. M. Borghesi, et al, Relativistic channeling of a picosecond laser pulse in a near-critical preformed plasma, Physical Review Letters, 78(5), 879 (1997).
 
15. M. Passoni, et al, Energetic ions at moderate laser intensities using foam-based multi-layered targets, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 56 (4), 045001 (2014).
 
16. D.V. Romanov, et al, Self-Organization of a Plasma due to 3D Evolution of the Weibel Instability, Physical Review Letters, 93(21), 215004 (2004).
 
17. A. Pukhov, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, Relativistic magnetic self-channeling of light in near-critical plasma: three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation, Physical Review Letters, 76(21), 3975 (1996).
 
18. P. Mulser, D. Bauer, High power laser-matter interaction.

Home