Efficient laser-driven proton and bremsstrahlung generation from cluster-assembled foam targets

Abstract

The interaction between intense 30 fs laser pulses and foam-coated 1.5 μ m-thick Al foils in the relativistic regime (up to 5 × 10 ^20 W cm ^−2 ) is studied to optimize the laser energy conversion into laser-accelerated protons. A significant enhancement is observed for foam targets in terms of proton cut-off energy (18.5 MeV) and number of protons above 4.7 MeV (4 × 10 ^9 protons/shot) with respect to uncoated foils (9.5 MeV, 1 × 10 ^9 protons/shot), together with a sixfold increase in the bremsstrahlung yield. This enhancement is attributed to increased laser absorption and electron generation in the foam meso- and nanostructure.

Keywords

• laser-driven ion acceleration
• laser-driven bremsstrahlung generation
• TNSA
• near-critical density plasma
• nanostructured targets
• foam targets