arXiv subjects

P. Tomassini

Publications and source records attributed to P. Tomassini.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Enhanced laser-driven proton acceleration via improved fast electron heating in a controlled pre-plasma

The interaction of ultraintense laser pulses with solids is largely affected by the plasma gradient at the vacuum-solid interface, which modifies the absorption and ultimately, controls the energy distribution function of heated electrons. A micrometer scale-length plasma has been predicted to yield a significant enhancement of the energy and weight of the fast electron population and to play a major role in laser-driven proton acceleration with thin foils. We report on recent experimental results on proton acceleration from laser interaction with foil targets at ultra-relativistic intensities. We show a three-fold increase of the proton cut-off energy when a micrometer scale-length pre-plasma is introduced by irradiation with a low energy femtosecond pre-pulse. Our realistic numerical simulations agree with the observed gain of the proton cut-off energy and confirm the role of stochastic heating of fast electrons in the enhancement of the accelerating sheath field.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2018

Light Ion Accelerating Line (L3IA): Test Experiment at ILIL-PW

The construction of a novel Laser driven Light Ions Acceleration Line(L3IA) is progressing rapidly towards the operation, following the recent upgrade of the ILIL-PW laser facility. The Line was designed following the pilot experimental activity carried out earlier at the same facility to define design parameters and to identify main components including target control and diagnostic equipment, also in combination with the numerical simulations for the optimization of laser and target parameters. A preliminary set of data was acquired following the successful commissioning of the laser system >100 TW upgrade. Data include output from a range of different ion detectors and optical diagnostics installed for qualification of the laser-target interaction. An overview of the results is given along with a description of the relevant upgraded laser facility and features.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2018

High-quality GeV-scale electron bunches with the Resonant Multi-Pulse Ionization Injection

Recently a new injection scheme for Laser Wake Field Acceleration, employing a single 100-TW-class laser system, has been proposed. In the Resonant Multi-Pulse Ionization injection (ReMPI) a resonant train of pulses drives a large amplitude plasma wave that traps electrons extracted from the plasma by further ionization of a high-Z dopant (Argon in the present paper). While the pulses of the driver train have intensity below the threshold for the dopant's ionization, the properly delayed and frequency doubled (or more) ionization pulse possesses an electric field large enough to extract electrons, though its normalized amplitude is well below unity. In this paper we will report on numerical simulations results aimed at the generation of GeV-scale bunches with normalized emittance and {\it rms} energy below $80\, nm \times rad $ and $0.5\, \%$, respectively. Analytical consideration of the FEL performance for a $1.3\, GeV$ bunch will be also reported.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2018

Modelling of pulse train generation for resonant laser wakefield acceleration using a delay mask

A new method for the generation of a train of pulses from a single high-energy, ultra short pulse is presented, suited for Resonant Multi-Pulse Ionization injection. The method is based on different transverse portion of the pulse being delayed by a "mask" sectioned in concentric zones with different thicknesses, in order to deliver multiple laser pulses. The mask is placed right before the last focusing parabola. A hole in the middle of the mask lets part of the original pulse to pass through to drive electron injection. In this paper a full numerical modelling of this scheme is presented. In particular we discuss the spatial and temporal profile of the pulses emerging from the mask and how they are related to the radius and thickness of each section.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Technical Design Report EuroGammaS proposal for the ELI-NP Gamma beam System

The machine described in this document is an advanced Source of up to 20 MeV Gamma Rays based on Compton back-scattering, i.e. collision of an intense high power laser beam and a high brightness electron beam with maximum kinetic energy of about 720 MeV. Fully equipped with collimation and characterization systems, in order to generate, form and fully measure the physical characteristics of the produced Gamma Ray beam. The quality, i.e. phase space density, of the two colliding beams will be such that the emitted Gamma ray beam is characterized by energy tunability, spectral density, bandwidth, polarization, divergence and brilliance compatible with the requested performances of the ELI-NP user facility, to be built in Romania as the Nuclear Physics oriented Pillar of the European Extreme Light Infrastructure. This document illustrates the Technical Design finally produced by the EuroGammaS Collaboration, after a thorough investigation of the machine expected performances within the constraints imposed by the ELI-NP tender for the Gamma Beam System (ELI-NP-GBS), in terms of available budget, deadlines for machine completion and performance achievement, compatibility with lay-out and characteristics of the planned civil engineering.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2002

Broad-band electron spectroscopy: a novel concept based on Thomson scattering

The spectrum of relativistic electron bunches with large energy dispersion is hardly obtainable with conventional magnetic spectrometers. We present a novel spectroscopic concept, based on the analysis of the photons generated by Thomson Scattering of a probe laser pulse inpinging with arbitrary incidence angle onto the electron bunch. The feasibility of a single-pulse spectrometer, using an energy-calibrated CCD device as detector, is investigated. Numerical simulations performed in conditions typical of a real experiment show the effectiveness and accuracy of the new method.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2001

A Generalization of Abel Inversion to non axisymmetric density distribution

Abel Inversion is currently used in laser-plasma studies in order to estimate the electronic density $n_e$ from the phase-shift map $δϕ$ obtained via interferometry. The main limitation of the Abel method is due to the assumption of axial symmetry of the electronic density, which is often hardly fulfilled. In this paper we present an improvement to the Abel inversion technique in which the axial symmetry condition is relaxed by means of a truncated Legendre Polinomial expansion in the azimutal angle. With the help of simulated interferograms, we will show that the generalized Abel inversion generates accurate densities maps when applied to non axisymmetric density sources.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2001

Application of novel techniques for interferogram analysis to laser-plasma femtosecond probing

Recently, two novel techniques for the extraction of the phase-shift map (Tomassini {\it et.~al.}, Applied Optics {\bf 40} 35 (2001)) and the electronic density map estimation (Tomassini P. and Giulietti A., Optics Communication {\bf 199}, pp 143-148 (2001)) have been proposed. In this paper we apply both methods to a sample laser-plasma interferogram obtained with femtoseconds probe pulse, in an experimental setup devoted to laser particle acceleration studies.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2001

Analyzing laser-plasma interferograms with a Continuous Wavelet Transform Ridge Extraction technique: the method

Laser-plasma interferograms are currently analyzed by extracting the phase-shift map with FFT techniques (K.A.Nugent, Applied Optics {\bf 18}, 3101 (1985)). This methodology works well when interferograms are only marginally affected by noise and reduction of fringe visibility, but it can fail in producing accurate phase-shifts maps when dealing with low-quality images. In this paper we will present a novel procedure for the phase-shift map computation which makes an extensive use of the Ridge Extraction in the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) framework. The CWT tool is {\it flexible} because of the wide adaptability of the analyzing basis and it can be very {\it accurate} because of the intrinsic noise reduction in the Ridge Extraction. A comparative analysis of the accuracy performances of the new tool and the FFT-based one shows that the CWT-based tool phase maps are considerably less noisy and it can better resolve local inhomogeneties.

physics.plasm-ph↗