High energy conversion efficiency in laser-proton acceleration by controlling laser-energy deposition onto thin foil targets

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Brenner, Ceri Mae and Robinson, A. P. L. and Markey, K. and Scott, R. H. H. and Gray, Ross and Rosinski, M. and Deppert, K. and Badziak, J and Batani, D. and Davies, J.R. and Lancaster, K.L. and Musgrave, I. O. and Norreys, P.A. and Pasley, J. and Roth, M. and Schlenvoight, H-P and Spindloe, C. and Tatarakis, M. and Winstone, T. B. and McKenna, Paul and Neely, David (2014) High energy conversion efficiency in laser-proton acceleration by controlling laser-energy deposition onto thin foil targets. Applied Physics Letters, 104 (8). 081123. ISSN 0003-6951 (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4865812)

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Abstract

An all-optical approach to laser-proton acceleration enhancement is investigated using the simplest of target designs to demonstrate application-relevant levels of energy conversion efficiency between laser and protons. Controlled deposition of laser energy, in the form of a double-pulse temporal envelope, is investigated in combination with thin foil targets in which recirculation of laser-accelerated electrons can lead to optimal conditions for coupling laser drive energy into the proton beam. This approach is shown to deliver a substantial enhancement in the coupling of laser energy to 5–30 MeV protons, compared to single pulse irradiation, reaching a record high 15% conversion efficiency with a temporal separation of 1 ps between the two pulses and a 5 μm-thick Au foil. A 1D simulation code is used to support and explain the origin of the observation of an optimum pulse separation of ∼1 ps.

ORCID iDs

Brenner, Ceri Mae, Robinson, A. P. L., Markey, K., Scott, R. H. H., Gray, Ross ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0610-9595, Rosinski, M., Deppert, K., Badziak, J, Batani, D., Davies, J.R., Lancaster, K.L., Musgrave, I. O., Norreys, P.A., Pasley, J., Roth, M., Schlenvoight, H-P, Spindloe, C., Tatarakis, M., Winstone, T. B., McKenna, Paul ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8061-7091 and Neely, David;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:50198
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    2014
    Published
    28 February 2014
    Published Online
    2 February 2014
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:07 Nov 2014 14:12
    Last modified:15 Dec 2024 01:18
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/50198
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