Laser-Driven Particle Acceleration - Improving Performance Through Smart Target Design
Author
Summary, in English
In the overdense plasma regime, hollow microspheres were found to have the potential to enhance the conversion of laser energy into proton energy. The microscopic structure of the material used as target has impact on electron beam filamentation during electron transport through the target bulk. Long-range order was found to result in smoother beams of TNSA-produced protons as compared to amorphous structures. In addition it was demonstrated that short pulse (fs) laser-solid interactions produce magnetic fields, the strength of which can reach 10 kT, mimicking astrophysical conditions.
In the underdense regime, it was found that when tailored appropriately, density ramps can provide means of dividing the laser wakefield acceleration process into four steps: nonlinear laser evolution, trapping, bunch transfer into the second bucket, and acceleration, resulting in beams with reduced relative energy spread and divergence compared to self-injection by a nonlinear plasma wave. It was further shown that capillaries can be used to improve efficiency by guiding and refocusing the laser light onto the central axis. Short bursts of soft x-rays were produced inside capillaries. Finally, the use of an asymmetric laser field at the focus facilitated off-axis electron injection into the accelerating phase of a plasma wake oscillation and enhanced x-ray emission.
Department/s
Publishing year
2012
Language
English
Publication/Series
Lund Reports on Atomic Physics
Volume
455
Full text
- Available as PDF - 82 MB
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Document type
Dissertation
Publisher
Camilla Nilsson, Department of Physics, Division of Atomic Physics, Lund University
Topic
- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
Keywords
- wakefield
- ultra-relativistic
- ultra-intense
- TNSA
- Terawatt
- sheath
- proton
- polarimetry
- plasma mirror
- plasma
- Petawatt
- particle
- oscillation
- Normarski
- micromachining
- LWFA
- laser
- interferometry
- electron
- contrast
- acceleration
- bubble
- Fysicumarkivet A:2012:Burza
Status
Published
Supervisor
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0281-2762
- ISBN: 978-91-7473-320-4
- Lund Report on Atomic Physics, LRAP-455
Defence date
31 May 2012
Defence time
10:15
Defence place
Lecture Hall B, Department of Physics, Professorsgatan 1, Lund University Faculty of Engineering
Opponent
- Philippe Martin (Dr.)