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Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration Using Truly Isolated Micro-sphere Targets

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Relativistically Intense Laser–Microplasma Interactions

Part of the book series: Springer Theses ((Springer Theses))

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Abstract

While laser-plasma interactions at lower intensities with spherical targets are reasonably well understood (e.g. [1, 2]), only few experimental approaches have been made at laser-intensities of \(a_0\gg 1\) to study their dynamics. As pointed out in the introduction, approaches were performed with cluster-targets in the 100 nm range and droplet targets in the several \(\upmu \)m range.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In the following calculations and examples, we evaluate and refer to proton sound velocities. Note however, that in comparison the sound velocity for fully charged carbon ions reduces only by a factor \(1/\sqrt{2}\) which was found to barely influence these considerations—which are based on estimates anyway.

  2. 2.

    Assuming a peak intensity of \(10^{20}\) W/cm\(^2\), ASE level of \(10^{-8}\) and ASE duration of 10 ns, the energy absorbed in a particle with radius 250 nm will range in the 10 \(\upmu \)J level, equivalent to about 10 keV average energy per particle.

  3. 3.

    My contribution: I initiated the experiment writing the corresponding proposal, planned the experiment and logistics, executed the setup and experiment as principle investigator. I supervised the team of 5 scientists (not counting TPW-staff), and organized the daily shot-plan. I performed the data analysis and interpretation.

  4. 4.

    This subsection is reproduced with minor variations and with permission from the original peer-reviewed article: T. M. Ostermayr et al., Physical Review E, 94(3):033208, (2016). The article is published by the American Physical Society and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.

  5. 5.

    The experiment leader of this campaign was Peter Hilz, to whom I served as deputy. As such, I participated in experiment planning, setup and conducting the experiment. All data was evaluated and interpreted by Peter Hilz, and represents the core of his PhD thesis. Here, this data is shown, as it completes the picture obtained from the use of isolated targets for ion acceleration. Figures 5.23 and 5.24 are reproduced with permission from the original peer-reviewed article: P. Hilz et al., “Isolated proton bunch acceleration by a petawatt laser pulse”, Nature Communications, 9:423, (2018). The article is published by Nature Communications (Springer Nature) and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

  6. 6.

    This PIC simulation was performed and analyzed by A. Hübl, M. Bussmann, T. Kluge and U. Schramm from HZDR Dresden in close collaboration with P. Hilz, and is part of [55].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Garching, Germany

    Tobias Ostermayr

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  1. Tobias Ostermayr
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Correspondence to Tobias Ostermayr .

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Ostermayr, T. (2019). Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration Using Truly Isolated Micro-sphere Targets. In: Relativistically Intense Laser–Microplasma Interactions. Springer Theses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22208-6_5

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