Using multi-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations we study ion acceleration from a foil irradiated by a circularly polarized laser pulse at 1022W/cm^2 intensity. When the foil is shaped initially in the transverse direction to match the laser intensity profile, the center part of the target can be uniformly accelerated for a longer time compared to a usual flat target. Target deformation and undesirable plasma heating are effectively suppressed. The final energy spectrum of the accelerated ion beam is improved dramatically. Collimated GeV quasi-mono-energetic ion beams carrying as much as 18% of the laser energy are observed in multi-dimensional simulations. Radiation damping effects are also checked in the simulations.
Target shape effects on monoenergetic GeV proton acceleration
圆偏振激光脉冲与薄膜靶相互作用时，可分为预打孔、打孔和光帆加速三个阶段。我们研究了第一阶段的电子和离子动力学，并找到了给定激光强度的最小箔厚度要求。基于此分析，我们建议使用一个形状的箔离子加速，其厚度横向变化，以匹配激光强度。然后，目标演化为三个区域：加速度区域、透明区域和变形区域。在加速区域中，靶可以被均匀地加速，从而产生单能且空间准直的离子束。详细的数值模拟进行检查该计划的可行性和鲁棒性，如形状因子和表面粗糙度的影响。在三维粒子模拟中，当激光脉冲聚焦强度为1022 W = cm ~ 2时，观察到了GeV单能质子束流。激光脉冲到加速质子束的能量转换效率大于23%。在相互作用中还检查了同步辐射和阻尼效应。
Usage of double-layer targets consisting of heavy and light material with modulated interface between them provides a way for laser-driven generation of collimated ion beams. With extensive 2D3V PIC simulations we show that this configuration may result in a development of a relativistic instability with Rayleigh-Taylor and Richtmyer-Meshkov like features. Initially small perturbations are amplified during the laser-target interaction leading to the formation of low-density plasma regions and high-density bunches between them, which are accelerated by the laser radiation pressure as whole comp…
Using fully three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we show that readily available femtosecond laser systems can stably generate proton beams with hundred MeV energy and low spread at $\sim1\%$ level by parallel irradiation of a tens of micrometers long plasma plate. As the laser pulse sweeps along the plate, it drags out a huge charge ($\sim$100 nC) of collimated energetic electrons and accelerates them along the plate surface to superponderomotive energies. When this dense electron current arrives at the rear end of the plate, it induces a strong electrostatic field. Due to the exces…
A superintense laser pulse illuminating a thin solid-density foil can, in principle, accelerate the entire foil, therefore yielding dense, collimated, and quasi-monoenergetic ion beams. These unique features render radiation pressure acceleration in the light sail regime a promising acceleration mechanism suited for applications where dense and high-flux ion beams are required. However, the onset of several instabilities typically results into foil deformation and heating, which cause premature termination of the radiation pressure acceleration stage and strong broadening of the ion spectrum. …
We propose new nanotargets as nano-layered flat-top cone targets to be used for future laser-ion acceleration experiments at ELI-NP. We study their behaviour at the interaction with an ultra-high intensity laser pulse by performing Particle-In-Cell simulations. We analyze spatio-temporal the electromagnetic field based on the finite-difference time-domain method for a complementary description. We find the optimum diameter of the nanospheres and the proper nano-flat-top foil thickness for which one can obtain monoenergetic beams of very energetic ions with low angular divergence.
Sources of high-energy photons have important applications in almost all areas of research. However, the photon flux and intensity of existing sources is strongly limited for photon energies above a few hundred keV. Here we show that a high-current ultrarelativistic electron beam interacting with multiple submicrometer-thick conducting foils can undergo strong self-focusing accompanied by efficient emission of gamma-ray synchrotron photons. Physically, self-focusing and high-energy photon emission originate from the beam interaction with the near-field transition radiation accompanying the bea…
Generation of Isolated Collimated Polarized $γ$-ray Beams via Spatiotemporal Optical Vortex Modulation
State Key Laboratory of Ultra-Intense Laser Science and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)（中国科学院上海光学精密机械研究所）；Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学材料科学与光电技术学院）；Laboratory of Zhongyuan Light, School of Physics, Zhengzhou University（郑州大学物理学院中原之光实验室）；State Key Laboratory of Dark Matter Physics, Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (MoE), School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University（上海交通大学物理与天文学院激光等离子体教育部重点实验室暗物质物理国家重点实验室）
A scheme for controlling the direction of energetic proton beam driven by intense laser pulse is proposed. Simulations show that a precisely directed and collimated proton bunch can be produced by a sub-picosecond laser pulse interacting with a target consisting of a thin solid-density disk foil with a solenoid coil attached to its back at the desired angle. It is found that two partially overlapping sheath fields are induced. As a result, the accelerated protons are directed parallel to the axis of the solenoid, and their spread angle is also reduced by the overlapping sheath fields. The prot…
We show that when a solid plasma foil with a density gradient on the front surface is irradiated by an intense laser pulse at a grazing angle, around 80 degrees, a relativistic electron vortex is excited in the near-critical-density layer after the laser pulse depletion. The vortex structure and dynamics are studied using particle-in-cell simulations. Due to the asymmetry introduced by nonuniform background density, the vortex drifts at a constant velocity, typically 0.2 to 0.3 times the speed of light. The strong magnetic field inside the vortex leads to significant charge separation; in the …
Generation of highly collimated monoenergetic relativistic ion beams is one of the most challenging and promising areas in ultra-intense laser-matter interactions because of the numerous scientific and technological applications that require such beams. We address this challenge by introducing the concept of laser-ion lensing and acceleration (LILA). Using a simple analogy with a gradient-index lens, we demonstrate that simultaneous focusing and acceleration of ions is accomplished by illuminating a shaped solid-density target by an intense laser pulse at ~10^22 W/cm^2 intensity, and using rad…
