Enhancing laser-driven proton acceleration by using micro-pillar arrays at high drive energy

The interaction of micro- and nano-structured target surfaces with high-power laser pulses is being widely investigated for its unprecedented absorption efficiency. We have developed vertically aligned metallic micro-pillar arrays for laser-driven proton acceleration experiments. We demonstrate that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2017-09, Vol.7 (1), p.11366-9, Article 11366
Main Authors: Khaghani, Dimitri, Lobet, Mathieu, Borm, Björn, Burr, Loïc, Gärtner, Felix, Gremillet, Laurent, Movsesyan, Liana, Rosmej, Olga, Toimil-Molares, Maria Eugenia, Wagner, Florian, Neumayer, Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/357/1016
639/766/1960/1135
639/766/1960/1137
Accelerator Physics
Energy
Energy conversion
General Physics
Humanities and Social Sciences
Lasers
multidisciplinary
Physics
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
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Summary:The interaction of micro- and nano-structured target surfaces with high-power laser pulses is being widely investigated for its unprecedented absorption efficiency. We have developed vertically aligned metallic micro-pillar arrays for laser-driven proton acceleration experiments. We demonstrate that such targets help strengthen interaction mechanisms when irradiated with high-energy-class laser pulses of intensities ~10 17–18 W/cm 2 . In comparison with standard planar targets, we witness strongly enhanced hot-electron production and proton acceleration both in terms of maximum energies and particle numbers. Supporting our experimental results, two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show an increase in laser energy conversion into hot electrons, leading to stronger acceleration fields. This opens a window of opportunity for further improvements of laser-driven ion acceleration systems.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-11589-z