Effect of Plasma Scale Length on Multi-MeV Proton Production by Intense Laser Pulses

A. J. Mackinnon, M. Borghesi, S. Hatchett, M. H. Key, P. K. Patel, H. Campbell, A. Schiavi, R. Snavely, S. C. Wilks, and O. Willi
Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 1769 – Published 26 February 2001
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Abstract

The influence of the plasma density scale length on the production of MeV protons from thin foil targets irradiated at Iλ2=5×1019Wcm2 has been studied. With an unperturbed foil, protons with energy >20MeV were formed in an exponential energy spectrum with a temperature of 2.5±0.3MeV. When a plasma with a scale length of 100μm was preformed on the back of the foil, the maximum proton energy was reduced to <5MeV and the beam was essentially destroyed. The experimental results are consistent with an electrostatic accelerating mechanism that requires an ultrashort scale length at the back of the target.

  • Received 14 July 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.1769

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. J. Mackinnon1, M. Borghesi2, S. Hatchett1, M. H. Key1, P. K. Patel1, H. Campbell3, A. Schiavi3, R. Snavely1, S. C. Wilks1, and O. Willi3

  • 1Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
  • 2Queens University, Belfast, United Kingdom
  • 3Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, England

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Issue

Vol. 86, Iss. 9 — 26 February 2001

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