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CO2 Laser acceleration of forward directed MeV proton beams in a gas target at critical plasma density

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2012

F. TSUNG ,
S. YA. TOCHITSKY ,
D. J. HABERBERGER ,
W. B. MORI  and
C. JOSHI
F. TSUNG
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
S. YA. TOCHITSKY
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (sergei12@ucla.edu)
D. J. HABERBERGER
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (sergei12@ucla.edu)
W. B. MORI
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (sergei12@ucla.edu)
C. JOSHI
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (sergei12@ucla.edu)
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Abstract

The generation of 1–5 MeV protons from the interaction of a 3 ps TW CO2 laser pulse with a gas target with a peak density around the critical plasma density has been studied by 2D particle-in-cell simulations. The proton acceleration in the preformed plasma with a symmetric, linearly ramped density distribution occurs via formation of sheath of the hot electrons on the back surface of the target. The maximum energy of the hot electrons and, hence, net acceleration of protons is mainly defined by Forward Raman scattering instability in the underdense part of the plasma. Forward directed ion beams from a debris free gaseous target can find an application as a high-brightness ion source-injector to a conventional accelerator operating up to kHz pulse repetition frequency.

Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 78 , Special Issue 4: Progress in Laser Acceleration of Particles , August 2012 , pp. 373 - 382
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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