Laser-ion acceleration from transparent overdense plasmas at the Texas Petawatt

I. Pomerantz, J. Blakeney, G. Dyer, L. Fuller, E. Gaul, D. C. Gautier, D. Jung, A. R. Meadows, R. Shah, C. Wang, J. C. Fernandez, T. Ditmire, B. M. Hegelich

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A steady increase of on-target laser intensity with also increasing pulse contrast is leading to light-matter interactions of extreme laser fields with matter in new physics regimes. At the Texas Petawatt laser we have realized interactions in the transparent-overdense regime, which is reached by interacting a highly relativistic, ultra-high contrast laser pulse with a solid density ultrathin target. The extreme fields in the laser focus are turning the overdense, opaque target transparent to the laser by the relativistic mass increase of the electrons. Thus, the interaction becomes volumetric, increasing the energy coupling from laser to plasma. Using plasma mirrors to increase the on-target contrast ratio, we demonstrated generation of over 60 MeV proton beams with pulse energies not exceeding 40 J (on target).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLaser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
EventLaser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III - Prague, Czech Republic
Duration: 15 Apr 201318 Apr 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8779

Conference

ConferenceLaser Acceleration of Electrons, Protons, and Ions II; and Medical Applications of Laser-Generated Beams of Particles II; and Harnessing Relativistic Plasma Waves III
Country/TerritoryCzech Republic
CityPrague
Period15/04/1318/04/13

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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