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arXiv · 1112.1816

Laser-driven collimated tens-GeV monoenergetic protons from mass-limited target plus preformed channel

F. L. Zheng·S. Z. Wu·H. C. Wu·H. B. Cai·M. Y. Yu·T. Tajima·X. Q. Yan·X. T. He
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Abstract

Proton acceleration by ultra-intense laser pulse irradiating a target with cross-section smaller than the laser spot size and connected to a parabolic density channel is investigated. The target splits the laser into two parallel propagating parts, which snowplow the back-side plasma electrons along their paths, creating two adjacent parallel wakes and an intense return current in the gap between them. The radiation-pressure pre-accelerated target protons trapped in the wake fields now undergo acceleration as well as collimation by the quasistatic wake electrostatic and magnetic fields. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation shows that stable long-distance acceleration can be realized, and a 30 fs monoenergetic ion beam of > 10 GeV peak energy and < 2degree divergence can be produced by a 9.8 *10^21 W/cm2 circularly polarized laser pulse.

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F. L. Zheng, S. Z. Wu, H. C. Wu, H. B. Cai, M. Y. Yu, T. Tajima, X. Q. Yan, X. T. He. 2011-12-08. Laser-driven collimated tens-GeV monoenergetic protons from mass-limited target plus preformed channel. https://arxiv.org/abs/1112.1816

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