Enhanced Energy, Conversion Efficiency and Collimation of Protons Driven by High-Contrast and Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Source abstract
Abstract
Progress in laser-driven proton acceleration requires increasing the proton maximum energy and laser-to-proton conversion efficiency while reducing the divergence of the proton beam. However, achieving all these qualities simultaneously has proven challenging experimentally, with the increase in beam energy often coming at the cost of beam quality. Numerical simulations suggest that coupling multi-PW laser pulses with ultrathin foils could offer a route for such simultaneous improvement. Yet, experimental investigations have been limited by the scarcity of such lasers and the need for very stringent temporal contrast conditions to prevent premature target expansion before the pulse maximum. Here, combining the newly commissioned Apollon laser facility that delivers high-power ultrashort (∼24fs) pulses with a double plasma mirror scheme to enhance its temporal contrast, we demonstrate the generation of up to 35 MeV protons with only 5 J of laser energy. This approach also achieves improved laser-to-proton energy conversion efficiency, reduced beam divergence, and optimized spatial beam profile. Therefore, despite the laser energy losses induced by the plasma mirror, the proton beams produced by this method are enhanced on all accounts compared to those obtained under standard conditions. Particle-in-cell simulations reveal that this improvement mainly results from a better space–time synchronization of the maximum of the accelerating charge-separation field with the proton bunch.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics · Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma · Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
LULI—CNRS, CEA, Sorbonne Université, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, F-91128 Palaiseau, CEDEX, France
Sorbonne Université, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, LERMA, F-75005 Paris, France
Laboratoire de Micro-Irradiation, de Métrologie et de Dosimétrie des Neutrons, PSE-Santé/SDOS, IRSN, F-13115 Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
INRS-EMT, 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, QC J3X 1S2, Canada
The School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
Physics Department, NRCN, P.O. Box 9001, Be’er Sheva 8419001, Israel
CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, LMCE, F-91680 Bruyères-le-Châtel, France
CLPU, 37185 Villamayor, Salamanca, Spain
LANL, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
Institute for Nuclear Physics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schlossgartenstr. 9, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
HB11 Energy Holdings, Freshwater, NSW 2096, Australia
Laboratoire de Dosimétrie des Rayonnements Ionisants, PSE-Santé/SDOS, IRSN, F-92262 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
Funding
European Research Council (ERC) · CNRS · IRSN · French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs · French Ministry of Higher Education and Research · IdEx University of Bordeaux/Grand Research Program “GPR LIGHT” · Pazy Foundation · National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) · Compute Canada
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