Generation of high-energy ion bunches via laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration at ultra-high laser intensities. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jabłoński, S.; Badziak, J.; Rączka, P.
• Is Part Of: Laser and particle beams. Volume 32:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 129
• Page End: 135
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Acceleration of ions, -- Laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration, -- Particle-in-cell simulation, -- Plasma; Laser beams -- Periodicals; Particle beams -- Periodicals; 535.5
• DOI: 10.1017/S0263034614000019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-0346

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, a new method for efficient generation of high-energy ion bunches via laser-induced cavity pressure acceleration (LICPA) is examined using one-dimensional particle-in-cell code PIC1D. It is found that for high laser beam intensities of the order of 10 22 W/cm 2 and for circular light polarization, a substantial increase in parameters of the accelerated ions is obtained when the target is placed inside a special cavity, into which the laser beam is introduced by a small hole. As compared to the pure radiation pressure acceleration scheme, the LICPA scheme leads to an increase in ion energies and the laser-to-ions energy conversion efficiency while the width of the ion energy spectrum are similar for both the schemes. Such a tendency was observed for all carbon targets (from 2 µm to 0.2 µm thick) investigated in the paper. The results of PIC1D simulations agree very well with predictions of the suitably generalized light sail model.