<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Many parameters of non-equilibrium plasma generated by high intensity and fast lasers depend on the pulse intensity and the laser wavelength. In conditions favourable for the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) regime the ion acceleration from the rear side of the target can be enhanced by increasing the thin foil absorbance through the use of nanoparticles and nanostructures promoting the surface plasmon resonance effect. In conditions favourable for the backward plasma acceleration (BPA) regime, when thick targets are used, a special role is played by the laser focal position with respect to the target surface, a proper choice of which may result in induced self-focusing effects and non-linear acceleration enhancement. SiC detectors employed in the time-of-flight (TOF) configuration and a Thomson parabola spectrometer permit on-line diagnostics of the ion streams emitted at high kinetic energies. The target composition and geometry, apart from the laser parameters and to the irradiation conditions, allow further control of the plasma characteristics and can be varied by using advanced targets to reach the maximum ion acceleration. Measurements using advanced targets with enhanced the laser absorption effect in thin films are presented. Applications of accelerated ions in the field of ion source, hadrontherapy and nuclear physics are discussed.</p></abstract>

Many parameters of non-equilibrium plasma generated by high intensity and fast lasers depend on the pulse intensity and the laser wavelength. In conditions favourable for the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) regime the ion acceleration from the rear side of the target can be enhanced by increasing the thin foil absorbance through the use of nanoparticles and nanostructures promoting the surface plasmon resonance effect. In conditions favourable for the backward plasma acceleration (BPA) regime, when thick targets are used, a special role is played by the laser focal position with respect to the target surface, a proper choice of which may result in induced self-focusing effects and non-linear acceleration enhancement. SiC detectors employed in the time-of-flight (TOF) configuration and a Thomson parabola spectrometer permit on-line diagnostics of the ion streams emitted at high kinetic energies. The target composition and geometry, apart from the laser parameters and to the irradiation conditions, allow further control of the plasma characteristics and can be varied by using advanced targets to reach the maximum ion acceleration. Measurements using advanced targets with enhanced the laser absorption effect in thin films are presented. Applications of accelerated ions in the field of ion source, hadrontherapy and nuclear physics are discussed.

Ion acceleration from intense laser-generated plasma: methods, diagnostics and possible applications

Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra & Dottorato di Ricerca in Fisica, Università di Messina, V. le F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 S. Agata, Messina, Italy

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Many parameters of non-equilibrium plasma generated by high intensity and fast lasers depend on the pulse intensity and the laser wavelength. In conditions...

Ion acceleration from intense laser-generated plasma: methods, diagnostics and possible applications

Publié en ligne: 22 juin 2015

Pages: 207 - 212

Reçu: 13 juin 2014

Accepté: 14 nov. 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0051

Mots clés
ion acceleration in plasma, plasma diagnostics, TOF, target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA)

© Lorenzo Torrisi

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Ion acceleration from intense laser-generated plasma: methods, diagnostics and possible applications

Publié en ligne: 22 juin 2015

Pages: 207 - 212

Reçu: 13 juin 2014

Accepté: 14 nov. 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0051

Mots clésion acceleration in plasma, plasma diagnostics, TOF, target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA)

© Lorenzo Torrisi

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
ion acceleration in plasma, plasma diagnostics, TOF, target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA)