BARC/PUB/2011/0457

 
 

Generation of ultraintense proton beams by multi-ps circularly polarized laser pulses for fast ignition-related applications

 
     
 
Author(s)

Badziak, J.; Mishra, G.; Gupta, N. K.; Holkundkar, A. R.

Source

Physics of Plasmas, 2011. Vol. 18 (5): pp. 053108.1-053108.9

ABSTRACT

A scheme of generation of ultraintense proton beams relevant for proton fast ignition (PFI) which employs multi-ps, circularly polarized laser pulse irradiating a thick (≥ 10 μm) H-rich target is proposed and examined using one-dimensional particle-in cell-simulations. It is shown that a 5-ps laser pulse of intensity ~(2–5)x1020W=cm2 irradiating the target of the areal proton density ~2x1020cm2 can produce – with a high energetic efficiency – a proton beam (plasma block) of parameters (intensity, energy fluence, pulse duration, proton energy spectrum) close to those required for PFI. At a fixed total laser energy, the proton beam parameters can be controlled and fitted to the PFI requirements by changing the laser intensity (energy fluence) and=or the target thickness as well as by using a shaped (curved) target inserted into a guiding cone.

 
 
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