Author
Listed:
- Bruno Gonzalez-Izquierdo
(University of Strathclyde)
- Martin King
(University of Strathclyde)
- Ross J. Gray
(University of Strathclyde)
- Robbie Wilson
(University of Strathclyde)
- Rachel J. Dance
(University of Strathclyde)
- Haydn Powell
(University of Strathclyde)
- David A. Maclellan
(University of Strathclyde)
- John McCreadie
(University of Strathclyde)
- Nicholas M. H. Butler
(University of Strathclyde)
- Steve Hawkes
(University of Strathclyde
Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
- James S. Green
(Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
- Chris D. Murphy
(University of York)
- Luca C. Stockhausen
(Centro de Láseres Pulsados (CLPU), M5 Parque CientĂfico)
- David C. Carroll
(Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
- Nicola Booth
(Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
- Graeme G. Scott
(University of Strathclyde
Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
- Marco Borghesi
(Centre for Plasma Physics, Queens University Belfast)
- David Neely
(University of Strathclyde
Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
- Paul McKenna
(University of Strathclyde)
Abstract
Control of the collective response of plasma particles to intense laser light is intrinsic to relativistic optics, the development of compact laser-driven particle and radiation sources, as well as investigations of some laboratory astrophysics phenomena. We recently demonstrated that a relativistic plasma aperture produced in an ultra-thin foil at the focus of intense laser radiation can induce diffraction, enabling polarization-based control of the collective motion of plasma electrons. Here we show that under these conditions the electron dynamics are mapped into the beam of protons accelerated via strong charge-separation-induced electrostatic fields. It is demonstrated experimentally and numerically via 3D particle-in-cell simulations that the degree of ellipticity of the laser polarization strongly influences the spatial-intensity distribution of the beam of multi-MeV protons. The influence on both sheath-accelerated and radiation pressure-accelerated protons is investigated. This approach opens up a potential new route to control laser-driven ion sources.
Suggested Citation
Bruno Gonzalez-Izquierdo & Martin King & Ross J. Gray & Robbie Wilson & Rachel J. Dance & Haydn Powell & David A. Maclellan & John McCreadie & Nicholas M. H. Butler & Steve Hawkes & James S. Green & C, 2016.
"Towards optical polarization control of laser-driven proton acceleration in foils undergoing relativistic transparency,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, November.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12891
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12891
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