Abstract
The properties of beams of high energy protons accelerated during ultraintense, picosecond laser-irradiation of thin foil targets are investigated as a function of preplasma expansion at the target front surface. Significant enhancement in the maximum proton energy and laser-to-proton energy conversion efficiency is observed at optimum preplasma density gradients due, to self-focusing Of the incident laser pulse. For very long preplasma expansion, the propagating laser pulse is observed to filament, resulting in highly uniform proton beams, but with reduced flux and maximum energy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 591-596 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Laser And Particle Beams |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2008 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering