Fabrication of large-area uniform carbon nanotube foams as near-critical-density targets for laser–plasma experiments. (15th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Pengjie; Qi, Guijun; Pan, Zhuo; Kong, Defeng; Shou, Yinren; Liu, Jianbo; Cao, Zhengxuan; Mei, Zhusong; Xu, Shirui; Liu, Zhipeng; Chen, Shiyou; Gao, Ying; Zhao, Jiarui; Ma, Wenjun
• Is Part Of: High power laser science and engineering. Volume 9(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06-15
• Subjects: carbon nanotube foams -- laser-driven acceleration -- near-critical density -- targets -- ultraintense laser; High power lasers -- Periodicals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1017/hpl.2021.18
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2095-4719

Abstract

Abstract: Carbon nanotube foams (CNFs) have been successfully used as near-critical-density targets in the laser-driven acceleration of high-energy ions and electrons. Here we report the recent advances in the fabrication technique of such targets. With the further developed floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) method, large-area ( $>25\kern0.5em {\mathrm{cm}}^2$ ) and highly uniform CNFs are successfully deposited on nanometer-thin metal or plastic foils as double-layer targets. The density and thickness of the CNF can be controlled in the range of $1{-}13\kern0.5em \mathrm{mg}/{\mathrm{cm}}^3$ and $10{-}200\kern0.5em \mu \mathrm{m}$, respectively, by varying the synthesis parameters. The dependence of the target properties on the synthesis parameters and the details of the target characterization methods are presented for the first time.