Investigation of relativistic intensity laser generated hot electron dynamics via copper K α imaging and proton acceleration

Simultaneous experimental measurements of copper Kα imaging and the maximum target normal sheath acceleration proton energies from the rear target surface are compared for various target thicknesses. For the T-cubed laser (≈4 J, 400 fs) at an intensity of ≈2 × 1019 W cm−2, the hot electron divergenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics of plasmas 2013-12, Vol.20 (12), p.123112
Main Authors: Willingale, L., Thomas, A. G. R., Maksimchuk, A, Morace, A., Bartal, T., Kim, J., Stephens, R. B., Wei, M. S., Beg, F. N., Krushelnick, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Copper
Diagnostic systems
Divergence
Electron beams
Electron density
Imaging
Mathematical models
Plasma physics
Proton energy
Sheaths
Target thickness
Trends
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Summary:Simultaneous experimental measurements of copper Kα imaging and the maximum target normal sheath acceleration proton energies from the rear target surface are compared for various target thicknesses. For the T-cubed laser (≈4 J, 400 fs) at an intensity of ≈2 × 1019 W cm−2, the hot electron divergence is determined to be θHW HM≈22° using a Kα imaging diagnostic. The maximum proton energies are measured to follow the expected reduction with increasing target thickness. Numerical modeling produces copper Kα trends for both signal level and electron beam divergence that are in good agreement with the experiment. A geometric model describing the electron beam divergence reproduces the maximum proton energy trends observed from the experiment and the fast electron density and the peak electric field observed in the numerical modeling.
ISSN:1070-664X
1089-7674
DOI:10.1063/1.4853575