5.5-7.5 MeV Proton Generation by a Moderate-Intensity Ultrashort-Pulse Laser Interaction with H{sub 2}O Nanowire Targets

We report on the first generation of 5.5-7.5 MeV protons by a moderate-intensity short-pulse laser ({approx}5x10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2}, 40 fsec) interacting with frozen H{sub 2}O nanometer-size structure droplets (snow nanowires) deposited on a sapphire substrate. In this setup, the laser intensity is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2011-04, Vol.106 (13)
Main Authors: Zigler, A., Palchan, T., Bruner, N., Schleifer, E., Eisenmann, S., Botton, M., Henis, Z., Pikuz, S. A., Faenov, A. Y. Jr, Gordon, D., Sprangle, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BARYONS
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
CORUNDUM
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERACTIONS
LASERS
MEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 01-10
MINERALS
NANOSTRUCTURES
NUCLEONS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PONDEROMOTIVE FORCE
POTENTIALS
PROTONS
PULSES
QUANTUM WIRES
SAPPHIRE
SUBSTRATES
WATER
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Summary:We report on the first generation of 5.5-7.5 MeV protons by a moderate-intensity short-pulse laser ({approx}5x10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2}, 40 fsec) interacting with frozen H{sub 2}O nanometer-size structure droplets (snow nanowires) deposited on a sapphire substrate. In this setup, the laser intensity is locally enhanced by the snow nanowire, leading to high spatial gradients. Accordingly, the nanoplasma is subject to enhanced ponderomotive potential, and confined charge separation is obtained. Electrostatic fields of extremely high intensities are produced over the short scale length, and protons are accelerated to MeV-level energies.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.106.134801