Dynamics of guided post-acceleration of protons in a laser-driven travelling-field accelerator

P. Hadjisolomou, H. Ahmed, R. Prasad, M. Cerchez, S. Brauckmann, B. Aurand, A. M. Schroer, M. Swantusch, O. Willi, M. Borghesi, S. Kar*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
101 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

By directing the laser-driven electromagnetic pulses along a helical path, one can achieve a travelling-field accelerator arrangement for simultaneous beam shaping and re-acceleration of laser-accelerated protons. The dynamics of guided acceleration of the transiting protons was studied by varying the length of the helical coil. Experimental data shows that the protons co-moving with the field region exhibit stronger focussing while increasing the coil length, with an increase of kinetic energy due to simultaneous post-acceleration. The net energy gain for a coil of constant pitch however saturates eventually when the post-accelerated protons overtakes the accelerating field region in due course. 3D particle tracing simulation underpins the dynamics of beam transport inside the coil, which highlights the requirement for a variable pitch coil geometry in order to sustain the post-acceleration over an extended coil.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115023
Number of pages12
JournalPlasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Volume62
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Helical coil
  • Laser
  • Post-acceleration
  • Proton

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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