| 1. |
- McKenna, P, et al.
(författare)
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Low- and medium-mass ion acceleration driven by petawatt laser plasma interactions
- 2007
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - 0741-3335. ; 49:B223, s. 223-231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An experimental investigation of low- and medium-mass ion acceleration from resistively heated thin foil targets, irradiated by picosecond laser pulses at intensities up to 5 × 10^20 Wcm−2, is reported. It is found that the spectral distributions of ions, up to multi-MeV/nucleon energies, accelerated from the rear surface of the target are broadly consistent with previously reported measurements made at intensities up to 5 × 10^19 Wcm−2. Properties of the backward-directed beams of ions accelerated from the target front surface are also measured, and it is found that, compared with the rear surface, higher ion numbers and charges, and similar ion energies are produced. Additionally, the scaling of the maximum ion energy as a function of ion charge and laser intensity are measured and compared with the predictions of a numerical model.
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| 2. |
- Robson, L, et al.
(författare)
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Scaling of proton acceleration driven by petawatt-laser-plasma interactions
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nature Physics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1745-2473 .- 1745-2481. ; 3:58, s. 58-62
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The possibility of using high-power lasers to generate high-quality beams of energetic ions is attracting large global interest. The prospect of using laser-accelerated protons in medicine attracts particular interest, as these schemes may lead to compact and relatively low-cost sources. Among the challenges remaining before these sources can be used in medicine is to increase the numbers and energies of the ions accelerated. Here, we extend the energy and intensity range over which proton scaling is experimentally investigated, up to 400 J and 6×10^20 Wcm−2 respectively, and find a slower proton scaling than previously predicted. With the aid of plasma-expansion simulation tools, our results suggest the importance of time-dependent andmultidimensional effects in predicting the maximum proton energy in this ultrahigh-intensity regime. The implications of our new understanding of proton scaling for potential medical applications are discussed.
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