Intense High-Energy Proton Beams from Petawatt-Laser Irradiation of Solids

20001,662 citationsJournal Article

Authors

R. A. Snavely · University of California, Davis

M. H. Key · Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

S. P. Hatchett · Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

T. E. Cowan · Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

M. Roth · GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research

T. W. Phillips · Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

M. A. Stoyer

Abstract

An intense collimated beam of high-energy protons is emitted normal to the rear surface of thin solid targets irradiated at 1 PW power and peak intensity 3x10(20) W cm(-2). Up to 48 J ( 12%) of the laser energy is transferred to 2x10(13) protons of energy >10 MeV. The energy spectrum exhibits a sharp high-energy cutoff as high as 58 MeV on the axis of the beam which decreases in energy with increasing off axis angle. Proton induced nuclear processes have been observed and used to characterize the beam.

Topics & Keywords

Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma High-pressure geophysics and materials

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and clean energy

Publication Details

Published in: Physical Review Letters

Volume 85, Issue 14, pp. 2945-2948

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.85.2945

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 53.06