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Laser triggered micro-lens for focusing and energy selection of MeV protons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

O. WILLI ,
T. TONCIAN ,
M. BORGHESI ,
J. FUCHS ,
E. D'HUMIÈRES ,
P. ANTICI ,
P. AUDEBERT ,
E. BRAMBRINK ,
C. CECCHETTI  and
A. PIPAHL
...Show all authors
O. WILLI
Affiliation:
Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
T. TONCIAN
Affiliation:
Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
M. BORGHESI
Affiliation:
The Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
J. FUCHS
Affiliation:
LULI, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
E. D'HUMIÈRES
Affiliation:
LULI, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France Centre de Physique Théorique, CNRS-Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
P. ANTICI
Affiliation:
LULI, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
P. AUDEBERT
Affiliation:
LULI, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
E. BRAMBRINK
Affiliation:
LULI, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
C. CECCHETTI
Affiliation:
The Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
A. PIPAHL
Affiliation:
Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
L. ROMAGNANI
Affiliation:
The Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Abstract

We present a novel technique for focusing and energy selection of high-current, MeV proton/ion beams. This method employs a hollow micro-cylinder that is irradiated at the outer wall by a high intensity, ultra-short laser pulse. The relativistic electrons produced are injected through the cylinder's wall, spread evenly on the inner wall surface of the cylinder, and initiate a hot plasma expansion. A transient radial electric field (107–1010 V/m) is associated with the expansion. The transient electrostatic field induces the focusing and the selection of a narrow band component out of the broadband poly-energetic energy spectrum of the protons generated from a separate laser irradiated thin foil target that are directed axially through the cylinder. The energy selection is tunable by changing the timing of the two laser pulses. Computer simulations carried out for similar parameters as used in the experiments explain the working of the micro-lens.

Keywords

Laser triggered ion micro-lensProton focusingQuasi mono-energetic proton beam
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 71 - 77
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

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References

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