Fast ion acceleration from thin foils irradiated by ultra-high intensity, ultra-high contrast laser pulses

R. Prasad, A.A. Andreev, Sargis Ter-Avetisyan, Domenico Doria, K.E. Quinn, Lorenzo Romagnani, C.M. Brenner, D.C. Carroll, N.P. Dover, D. Neely, P.S. Foster, P. Gallegos, J.S. Green, P. McKenna, Z. Najmudin, C. A. J. Palmer, J. Schreiber, M.J.V. Streeter, O. Tresca, Matthew ZepfMarco Borghesi

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23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ion acceleration resulting from the interaction of ultra-high intensity (2 x 10(20) W/cm(2)) and ultra-high contrast (similar to 10(10)) laser pulses with 0.05-10 mu m thick Al foils at normal (0 degrees) and 35 degrees laser incidence is investigated. When decreasing the target thickness from 10 mu m down to 0.05 mu m, the accelerated ions become less divergent and the ion flux increases, particularly at normal (0 degrees) laser incidence on the target. A laser energy conversion into protons of,similar to 6.5% is estimated at 35 degrees laser incidence. Experimental results are in reasonable agreement with theoretical estimates and can be a benchmark for further theoretical and computational work.
Original languageEnglish
Article number121504
Number of pages1
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume99
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Sept 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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