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Six MeV proton acceleration from plasma generated by high‐intensity laser using advanced thin polyethylene targets
Author(s) -
Torrisi L.,
Cutroneo M.,
Torrisi A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
contributions to plasma physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1521-3986
pISSN - 0863-1042
DOI - 10.1002/ctpp.202100024
Subject(s) - proton , plasma , laser , materials science , acceleration , irradiation , atomic physics , yield (engineering) , optics , physics , nuclear physics , composite material , classical mechanics
Proton acceleration can be induced by non‐equilibrium plasma developed by high‐intensity laser pulses, at 10 16 W/cm 2 , irradiating different types of thin polyethylene targets. The process of proton acceleration and directive yield emission was investigated, optimizing the laser parameters, the irradiation conditions, and the target properties. The use of 600 J pulse energy, a laser focalization inducing self‐focusing effects and advanced targets with embedded nanoparticles and optimal thicknesses, has permitted to accelerate forward protons up to the energies of about 6 MeV and amount of the order of 10 15 H + /pulse. High proton energy is obtained using thin foils enriched with gold nanoparticles, whereas high proton yield is obtained using targets with a thickness of about 10 μm. The plasma diagnostics using SiC semiconductor detectors in time‐of‐flight configuration was fundamental to monitor the optimal conditions to improve the plasma processes concerning the ion acceleration and the X‐ray and relativistic electron emission.