Divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils

J. H. Bin; W. J. Ma; K. Allinger; H. Y. Wang; D. Kiefer; S. Reinhardt; P. Hilz; K. Khrennikov; S. Karsch; X. Q. Yan; F. Krausz; T. Tajima; D. Habs; J. Schreiber

doi:10.1117/12.1518441

9 May 2013 Divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils

J. H. Bin, W. J. Ma, K. Allinger, H. Y. Wang, D. Kiefer, S. Reinhardt, P. Hilz, K. Khrennikov, S. Karsch, X. Q. Yan, F. Krausz, T. Tajima, D. Habs, J. Schreiber

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8779, Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III; 87791H (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.1518441
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

We report on experimental studies of divergence of proton beams from nanometer thick diamond-like carbon (DLC) foils irradiated by an intense laser with high contrast. Proton beams with extremely small divergence (half angle) of 2° are observed in addition with a remarkably well-collimated feature over the whole energy range, showing one order of magnitude reduction of the divergence angle in comparison to the results from μm thick targets. We demonstrate that this reduction arises from a steep longitudinal electron density gradient and an exponentially decaying transverse profile at the rear side of the ultrathin foils. Agreements are found both in an analytical model and in particle in cell simulations. Those novel features make nm foils an attractive alternative for high flux experiments relevant for fundamental research in nuclear and warm dense matter physics.

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J. H. Bin, W. J. Ma, K. Allinger, H. Y. Wang, D. Kiefer, S. Reinhardt, P. Hilz, K. Khrennikov, S. Karsch, X. Q. Yan, F. Krausz, T. Tajima, D. Habs, and J. Schreiber "Divergence of laser-driven ion beams from nanometer thick foils", Proc. SPIE 8779, Laser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III, 87791H (9 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.1518441

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