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Enhancement of monoenergetic proton beams via cone substrate in high intensity laser pulse-double layer target interactions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2010

Weimin Zhou*
Affiliation:
Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Yuqiu Gu
Affiliation:
Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Wei Hong
Affiliation:
Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Leifeng Cao
Affiliation:
Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Zongqing Zhao
Affiliation:
Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Yongkun Ding
Affiliation:
Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Baohan Zhang
Affiliation:
Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, China
Hongbo Cai
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing, China
Kunioki Mima
Affiliation:
Institute of laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Weimin Zhou, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan Province 621900, China. E-mail: zhouweimin@gmail.com

Abstract

A scheme capable of enhancing the energy of monoenergetic protons in high intensity laser-plasma interactions is proposed and demonstrated by two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The focusing of laser light pulse and the guiding of surface current via the high Z material cone-shaped substrate increase the temperature of hot electrons, which are responsible for the electrostatic field accelerating protons. Moreover, the sub-micron proton layer coated on the cone-shaped substrate makes the total proton beam experience the same accelerating field, thus the monochromaticity is maintained. Compared to the normal film double layer target, the energy of monoenergetic proton beams can be improved about three times.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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