1
|
Gelfer EG, Fedotov AM, Klimo O, Weber S. Absorption and opacity threshold for a thin foil in a strong circularly polarized laser field. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:033204. [PMID: 32289987 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.033204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We show that a commonly accepted transparency threshold for a thin foil in a strong circularly polarized normally incident laser pulse needs a refinement. We present an analytical model that correctly accounts for laser absorption. The refined threshold is determined not solely by the laser amplitude, but by other parameters that are equally or even more important. Our predictions are in perfect agreement with particle-in-cell simulations. The refined criterion is crucial for configuring laser plasma experiments in the high-field domain. In addition, an opaque foil steepens the pulse front, which can be important for numerous applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E G Gelfer
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, v.v.i., Dolni Brezany, Czech Republic.,National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow, Russia
| | - A M Fedotov
- National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow, Russia
| | - O Klimo
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, v.v.i., Dolni Brezany, Czech Republic.,FNSPE, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - S Weber
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, v.v.i., Dolni Brezany, Czech Republic.,School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mackenroth F, Gonoskov A, Marklund M. Chirped-Standing-Wave Acceleration of Ions with Intense Lasers. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2016; 117:104801. [PMID: 27636480 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.117.104801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We propose a novel mechanism for ion acceleration based on the guided motion of electrons from a thin layer. The electron motion is locked to the moving nodes of a standing wave formed by a chirped laser pulse reflected from a mirror behind the layer. This provides a stable longitudinal field of charge separation, thus giving rise to chirped-standing-wave acceleration of the residual ions of the layer. We demonstrate, both analytically and numerically, that stable proton beams, with energy spectra peaked around 100 MeV, are feasible for pulse energies at the level of 10 J. Moreover, a scaling law for higher laser intensities and layer densities is presented, indicating stable GeV-level energy gains of dense ion bunches, for soon-to-be-available laser intensities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Mackenroth
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - A Gonoskov
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden
- Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - M Marklund
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Paradkar BS, Krishnagopal S. Electron heating in radiation-pressure-driven proton acceleration with a circularly polarized laser. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:023203. [PMID: 26986428 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.023203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Dynamics of electron heating in the radiation-pressure-driven acceleration through self-induced transparency (SIT) is investigated with the help of particle-in-cell simulations. The SIT is achieved through laser filamentation which is seeded by the transverse density modulations due to the Rayleigh-Taylor-like instability. We observe stronger SIT induced electron heating for the longer duration laser pulses leading to deterioration of accelerated ion beam quality (mainly energy spread). Such heating can be controlled to obtain a quasimonoenergetic beam by cascaded foils targets where a second foil behind the main accelerating foil acts as a laser reflector to suppress the SIT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B S Paradkar
- Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, University of Mumbai, Mumbai 40098, India
| | - S Krishnagopal
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 40085, India
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gonoskov A, Bastrakov S, Efimenko E, Ilderton A, Marklund M, Meyerov I, Muraviev A, Sergeev A, Surmin I, Wallin E. Extended particle-in-cell schemes for physics in ultrastrong laser fields: Review and developments. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2015; 92:023305. [PMID: 26382544 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.92.023305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We review common extensions of particle-in-cell (PIC) schemes which account for strong field phenomena in laser-plasma interactions. After describing the physical processes of interest and their numerical implementation, we provide solutions for several associated methodological and algorithmic problems. We propose a modified event generator that precisely models the entire spectrum of incoherent particle emission without any low-energy cutoff, and which imposes close to the weakest possible demands on the numerical time step. Based on this, we also develop an adaptive event generator that subdivides the time step for locally resolving QED events, allowing for efficient simulation of cascades. Further, we present a unified technical interface for including the processes of interest in different PIC implementations. Two PIC codes which support this interface, PICADOR and ELMIS, are also briefly reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Gonoskov
- Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - S Bastrakov
- University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - E Efimenko
- Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - A Ilderton
- Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - M Marklund
- Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - I Meyerov
- University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - A Muraviev
- Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - A Sergeev
- Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
- University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - I Surmin
- University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia
| | - E Wallin
- Department of Physics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang HY, Lin C, Liu B, Sheng ZM, Lu HY, Ma WJ, Bin JH, Schreiber J, He XT, Chen JE, Zepf M, Yan XQ. Laser-driven three-stage heavy-ion acceleration from relativistic laser-plasma interaction. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2014; 89:013107. [PMID: 24580346 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.89.013107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A three-stage heavy ion acceleration scheme for generation of high-energy quasimonoenergetic heavy ion beams is investigated using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation and analytical modeling. The scheme is based on the interaction of an intense linearly polarized laser pulse with a compound two-layer target (a front heavy ion layer + a second light ion layer). We identify that, under appropriate conditions, the heavy ions preaccelerated by a two-stage acceleration process in the front layer can be injected into the light ion shock wave in the second layer for a further third-stage acceleration. These injected heavy ions are not influenced by the screening effect from the light ions, and an isolated high-energy heavy ion beam with relatively low-energy spread is thus formed. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that ∼100MeV/u quasimonoenergetic Fe24+ beams can be obtained by linearly polarized laser pulses at intensities of 1.1×1021W/cm2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Y Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China and Helmholtz Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - C Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - B Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Z M Sheng
- Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (MoE) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - H Y Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - W J Ma
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching, Germany and Fakultät für Physik, LMU München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - J H Bin
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching, Germany and Fakultät für Physik, LMU München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - J Schreiber
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching, Germany and Fakultät für Physik, LMU München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - X T He
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - J E Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - M Zepf
- Helmholtz Institute Jena, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - X Q Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Lab of High Energy Density Physics Simulation, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sahai AA, Tsung FS, Tableman AR, Mori WB, Katsouleas TC. Relativistically induced transparency acceleration of light ions by an ultrashort laser pulse interacting with a heavy-ion-plasma density gradient. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2013; 88:043105. [PMID: 24229291 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.88.043105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The relativistically induced transparency acceleration (RITA) scheme of proton and ion acceleration using laser-plasma interactions is introduced, modeled, and compared to the existing schemes. Protons are accelerated with femtosecond relativistic pulses to produce quasimonoenergetic bunches with controllable peak energy. The RITA scheme works by a relativistic laser inducing transparency [Akhiezer and Polovin, Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz 30, 915 (1956); Kaw and Dawson, Phys. Fluids 13, 472 (1970); Max and Perkins, Phys. Rev. Lett. 27, 1342 (1971)] to densities higher than the cold-electron critical density, while the background heavy ions are stationary. The rising laser pulse creates a traveling acceleration structure at the relativistic critical density by ponderomotively [Lindl and Kaw, Phys. Fluids 14, 371 (1971); Silva et al., Phys. Rev. E 59, 2273 (1999)] driving a local electron density inflation, creating an electron snowplow and a co-propagating electrostatic potential. The snowplow advances with a velocity determined by the rate of the rise of the laser's intensity envelope and the heavy-ion-plasma density gradient scale length. The rising laser is incrementally rendered transparent to higher densities such that the relativistic-electron plasma frequency is resonant with the laser frequency. In the snowplow frame, trace density protons reflect off the electrostatic potential and get snowplowed, while the heavier background ions are relatively unperturbed. Quasimonoenergetic bunches of velocity equal to twice the snowplow velocity can be obtained and tuned by controlling the snowplow velocity using laser-plasma parameters. An analytical model for the proton energy as a function of laser intensity, rise time, and plasma density gradient is developed and compared to 1D and 2D PIC OSIRIS [Fonseca et al., Lect. Note Comput. Sci. 2331, 342 (2002)] simulations. We model the acceleration of protons to GeV energies with tens-of-femtoseconds laser pulses of a few petawatts. The scaling of proton energy with laser power compares favorably to other mechanisms for ultrashort pulses [Schreiber et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 045005 (2006); Esirkepov et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 175003 (2004); Silva et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 015002 (2004); Fiuza et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 215001 (2012)].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aakash A Sahai
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Korzhimanov AV, Efimenko ES, Golubev SV, Kim AV. Generating high-energy highly charged ion beams from petawatt-class laser interactions with compound targets. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2012; 109:245008. [PMID: 23368338 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.109.245008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A new method of generation of high-energy highly charged ion beams is proposed. The method is based on the interaction of petawatt circularly polarized laser pulses with high-Z compound targets consisting of two species of different charge-to-mass ratio. It is shown that highly charged ions produced by field ionization can be accelerated up to tens of MeV/u with ion (actually with Z ≤ 25) beam parameters like density and total charge inaccessible in conventional accelerators. A possibility of further ionization of the accelerated ion bunches in foil is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A V Korzhimanov
- Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Laser Radiation Pressure Accelerator for Quasi-Monoenergetic Proton Generation and Its Medical Implications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-28726-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
|
9
|
Gonoskov AA, Korzhimanov AV, Kim AV, Marklund M, Sergeev AM. Ultrarelativistic nanoplasmonics as a route towards extreme-intensity attosecond pulses. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2011; 84:046403. [PMID: 22181279 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.84.046403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The generation of ultrastrong attosecond pulses through laser-plasma interactions offers the opportunity to surpass the intensity of any known laboratory radiation source, giving rise to new experimental possibilities, such as quantum electrodynamical tests and matter probing at extremely short scales. Here we demonstrate that a laser irradiated plasma surface can act as an efficient converter from the femto- to the attosecond range, giving a dramatic rise in pulse intensity. Although seemingly similar schemes have been described in the literature, the present setup differs significantly from the previous attempts. We present a model describing the nonlinear process of relativistic laser-plasma interaction. This model, which is applicable to a multitude of phenomena, is shown to be in excellent agreement with particle-in-cell simulations. The model makes it possible to determine a parameter region where the energy conversion from the femto- to the attosecond regime is maximal. Based on the study we propose a concept of laser pulse interaction with a target having a groove-shaped surface, which opens up the potential to exceed an intensity level of 10(26) W/cm(2) and observe effects due to nonlinear quantum electrodynamics with upcoming laser sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A A Gonoskov
- Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Macchi A, Veghini S, Pegoraro F. "Light sail" acceleration reexamined. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2009; 103:085003. [PMID: 19792733 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.085003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of the acceleration of ultrathin foil targets by the radiation pressure of superintense, circularly polarized laser pulses is investigated by analytical modeling and particle-in-cell simulations. By addressing self-induced transparency and charge separation effects, it is shown that for "optimal" values of the foil thickness only a thin layer at the rear side is accelerated by radiation pressure. The simple "light sail" model gives a good estimate of the energy per nucleon, but overestimates the conversion efficiency of laser energy into monoenergetic ions.
Collapse
|