Characterization of proton and heavier ion acceleration in ultrahigh-intensity laser interactions with heated target foils

McKenna, P. et al. (2004) Characterization of proton and heavier ion acceleration in ultrahigh-intensity laser interactions with heated target foils. Physical Review E, 70(3), art 036405. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.70.036405)

Abstract

Proton and heavy ion acceleration in ultrahigh intensity (~2×10²⁰ W cm^–2) laser plasma interactions has been investigated using the new petawatt arm of the VULCAN laser. Nuclear activation techniques have been applied to make the first spatially integrated measurements of both proton and heavy ion acceleration from the same laser shots with heated and unheated Fe foil targets. Fe ions with energies greater than 10 MeV per nucleon have been observed. Effects of target heating on the accelerated ion energy spectra and the laser-to-ion energy conversion efficiencies are discussed. The laser-driven production of the long-lived isotope ⁵⁷Co (271 days) via a heavy ion induced reaction is demonstrated.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Singhal, Dr Ravi and Ledingham, Professor Kenneth
• Authors: McKenna, P., Ledingham, K.W.D., Yang, J.M., Robson, L., McCanny, T., Shimizu, S., Clarke, R.J., Neely, D., Spohr, K., Chapman, R., Singhal, R.P., Krushelnick, K., Wei, M.S., and Norreys, P.A.
• Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review E
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 1539-3755
• ISSN (Online): 1550-2376