Modeling proton interactions with magnetodynamic targets for electromagnetic field mapping

Abstract

Proton radiography’s utilization of positively charged probing particles makes it susceptible to potential influences from electromagnetic forces generated at the target object. In this work, we investigate how the 800 MeV proton radiography system of Los Alamos National Laboratory would respond to such influences with intentions to develop proton radiography/deflectometry diagnostics capable of probing electromagnetic fields inside dynamically changing objects. To understand how the proton radiography system responds to object-generated electromagnetic fields, a series of simulations were performed, which map proton trajectories through the system. This leads to an understanding of how the radiographic images, normally dominated by multiple Coulomb scattering, would be modified. The simulations also highlight novel ways in which additional data could be collected to glean more information about electromagnetic influences within and around the target object.

Proton imaging of high-energy-density laboratory plasmas

“…Many of these applications would require the development of compact permanent magnet proton optics (Schollmeier et al, 2014) or dynamic laser-driven optics (Toncian et al, 2006). These would also be useful for generally improving imaging capabilities using charged-particle optics [i.e., a proton microscope much smaller than, but similar to, those at FAIR (Mottershead et al, 2003), LANL (Merrill et al, 2009;Prall et al, 2016;Zellner et al, 2021), and PRIOR (Varentsov et al, 2016)] to image the object, in contrast to the simple point-projection imaging currently employed. Small permanent optics have already been used for energy selection (Schollmeier et al, 2014) as well as pulse solenoid optics (Brack et al, 2020), where a particular energy can be selected, but we are not aware of their use for the implementation of a proton microscope.…”