Projects per year
Abstract
Control of the collective response of plasma particles to intense laser light is intrinsic to relativistic optics, the development of compact laser-driven particle and radiation sources, as well as investigations of some laboratory astrophysics phenomena. We recently demonstrated that a relativistic plasma aperture produced in an ultra-thin foil at the focus of intense laser radiation can induce diffraction, enabling polarization-based control of the collective motion of plasma electrons. Here we show that under these conditions the electron dynamics are mapped into the beam of protons accelerated via strong charge-separation-induced electrostatic fields. It is demonstrated experimentally and numerically via 3D particle-in-cell simulations that the degree of ellipticity of the laser polarization strongly influences the spatial-intensity distribution of the beam of multi-MeV protons. The influence on both sheath-accelerated and radiation pressure-accelerated protons is investigated. This approach opens up a potential new route to control laser-driven ion sources.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 12891 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 14 Sept 2016 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Chemistry
- General Physics and Astronomy
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Dive into the research topics of 'Towards optical polarization control of laser-driven proton acceleration in foils undergoing relativistic transparency'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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R1304CPP: Advanced laser-ion acceleration strategies towards next generation healthcare
Borghesi, M. (PI), Kar, S. (CoI), Prise, K. (CoI) & Zepf, M. (CoI)
01/08/2012 → 20/01/2020
Project: Research