Ion acceleration from the shock front induced by hole boring in ultraintense laser-plasma interactions

H. Habara, K.L. Lancaster, S. Karsch, C.D. Murphy, P.A. Norreys, R.G. Evans, Marco Borghesi, Lorenzo Romagnani, Matthew Zepf, T. Norimatsu, Y. Toyama, R. Kodama, J.A. King, R. Snavely, K. Akli, B. Zhang, R. Freeman, S. Hatchett, A.J. MacKinnon, P. PatelM.H. Key, C. Stoeckl, R.B. Stephens, R.A. Fonseca, L.O. Silva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ion-acceleration processes have been studied in ultraintense laser plasma interactions for normal incidence irradiation of solid deuterated targets via neutron spectroscopy. The experimental neutron spectra strongly suggest that the ions are preferentially accelerated radially, rather than into the bulk of the material from three-dimensional Monte Carlo fitting of the neutron spectra. Although the laser system has a 10(-7) contrast ratio, a two-dimensional magnetic hydrodynamics simulation shows that the laser pedestal generates a 10 mum scale length in the coronal plasma with a 3 mum scale-length plasma near the critical density. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, incorporating this realistic density profile, indicate that the acceleration of the ions is caused by a collisionless shock formation. This has implications for modeling energy transport in solid is caused by a collisionless shock formation. This has implications for modeling energy transport in solid density plasmas as well as cone-focused fast ignition using the next generation PW lasers currently under construction.
Original languageEnglish
Article number046414
Pages (from-to)046414-1-046414-4
JournalPhysical Review E
Volume70
Issue number4 2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
  • Mathematical Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ion acceleration from the shock front induced by hole boring in ultraintense laser-plasma interactions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this