Synchronous post-acceleration of laser-driven protons in helical coil targets by controlling the current dispersion

Zhipeng Liu; Zhusong Mei; Defeng Kong; Zhuo Pan; Shirui Xu; Ying Gao; Yinren Shou; Pengjie Wang; Zhengxuan Cao; Yulan Liang; Ziyang Peng; Jiarui Zhao; Shiyou Chen; Tan Song; Xun Chen; Tianqi Xu; Xueqing Yan; Wenjun Ma

doi:10.1017/hpl.2023.33

High Power Laser Science and Engineering (Jan 2023)

Synchronous post-acceleration of laser-driven protons in helical coil targets by controlling the current dispersion

Zhipeng Liu,
Zhusong Mei,
Defeng Kong,
Zhuo Pan,
Shirui Xu,
Ying Gao,
Yinren Shou,
Pengjie Wang,
Zhengxuan Cao,
Yulan Liang,
Ziyang Peng,
Jiarui Zhao,
Shiyou Chen,
Tan Song,
Xun Chen,
Tianqi Xu,
Xueqing Yan,
Wenjun Ma

Affiliations

Zhipeng Liu: ORCiD; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Zhusong Mei: ORCiD; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Defeng Kong: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Zhuo Pan: ORCiD; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Shirui Xu: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Ying Gao: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Yinren Shou: ORCiD; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Pengjie Wang: ORCiD; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Zhengxuan Cao: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Yulan Liang: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Ziyang Peng: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Jiarui Zhao: ORCiD; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Shiyou Chen: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Tan Song: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Xun Chen: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Tianqi Xu: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China
Xueqing Yan: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China Beijing Laser Acceleration Innovation Center, Beijing, China Institute of Guangdong Laser Plasma Technology, Guangzhou, China
Wenjun Ma: ORCiD; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing, China Beijing Laser Acceleration Innovation Center, Beijing, China Institute of Guangdong Laser Plasma Technology, Guangzhou, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/hpl.2023.33
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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Post-acceleration of protons in helical coil targets driven by intense, ultrashort laser pulses can enhance ion energy by utilizing the transient current from the targets’ self-discharge. The acceleration length of protons can exceed a few millimeters, and the acceleration gradient is of the order of GeV/m. How to ensure the synchronization between the accelerating electric field and the protons is a crucial problem for efficient post-acceleration. In this paper, we study how the electric field mismatch induced by current dispersion affects the synchronous acceleration of protons. We propose a scheme using a two-stage helical coil to control the current dispersion. With optimized parameters, the energy gain of protons is increased by four times. Proton energy is expected to reach 45 MeV using a hundreds-of-terawatts laser, or more than 100 MeV using a petawatt laser, by controlling the current dispersion.

Published in High Power Laser Science and Engineering

ISSN: 2095-4719 (Print); 2052-3289 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General): Applied optics. Photonics
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/high-power-laser-science-and-engineering

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