Effect of electromagnetic pulse transverse inhomogeneity on ion acceleration by radiation pressure

Abstract

In the ion acceleration by radiation pressure a transverse inhomogeneity of the electromagnetic pulse results in the displacement of the irradiated target in the off-axis direction limiting achievable ion energy. This effect is described analytically within the framework of the thin foil target model and with the particle-in-cell simulations showing that the maximum energy of accelerated ions decreases while the displacement from the axis of the target initial position increases. The results obtained can be applied for optimization of the ion acceleration by the laser radiation pressure with the mass limited targets.

Dominance of hole-boring radiation pressure acceleration regime with thin ribbon of ionized solid hydrogen

“…The foil is bent by the laser beam intensity shape and hot electrons can be generated in the curved surface of the dense target. Moreover, Rayleigh-Taylor instability should develop [38,39]. Similar effect can be observed in our case with a thicker target when we tested both polarizations (linearly p-polarized and circularly polarized pulses).…”

Stochastic regimes in the driven oscillator with a step-like nonlinearity

“…[16] and [31,32]. The electron heating can be enhanced for the tightly focused laser pulse [33] and for not perfectly aligned laser-target configurations [34].…”

Laser ion acceleration from mass-limited targets with preplasma

“…[19], the finite pointing precision of the laser imposes constraints on the maximum attainable energies of accelerated ions. However, while it is still true for the considered type of the target, the shift of the focus can give rise to a number of the effects that also provide energetic particles, even though their maximum energy is a factor of 1.5 smaller.…”

“…A tailored laser pulse can provide in principle unlimited ion acceleration [18]. In the case of a mass-limited target, the RPDA of ions can be stable even if the target is initially off-axis [19]. A combination of the RPDA and a subsequent Coulomb explosion of a thick target leads to a directed Coulomb explosion regime of the ion acceleration [20].…”