Sandrine A. Gaillard

Energetic protons generated by ultrahigh contrast laser pulses interacting with ultrathin targets

A regime of laser acceleration of protons, which relies on the interaction of ultrahigh contrast laser pulses with ultrathin targets, has been validated using experiments and simulations. Proton beams were accelerated to a maximum energy of ∼7.3MeV from targets as thin as 30nm irradiated at 1018Wcm−2μm2 (1J, 320fs) with an estimated peak laser pulse to pedestal intensity contrast ratio of 1011. This represents nearly a tenfold increase in proton energy compared to the highest energies obtainable using non contrast enhanced pulses and thicker targets (>5μm) at the same intensity. To obtain similar proton energy with thicker targets and the same laser pulse duration, a much higher laser intensity (i.e., above 1019Wcm−2μm2) is required. The simulations are in close agreement with the experimental results, showing efficient electron heating compared to the case of thicker targets. Rapid target expansion, allowing laser absorption in density gradients, is key to enhanced electron heating and ion acceleration i...

Absolute calibration of photostimulable image plate detectors used as (0.5-20 MeV) high-energy proton detectors

In this paper, the absolute calibration of photostimulable image plates (IPs) used as proton detectors is presented. The calibration is performed in a wide range of proton energies (0.5-20 MeV) by exposing simultaneously the IP and calibrated detectors (radiochromic films and solid state detector CR39) to a source of broadband laser-accelerated protons, which are spectrally resolved. The final result is a calibration curve that enables retrieving the proton number from the IP signal.

Study of saturation of CR39 nuclear track detectors at high ion fluence and of associated artifact patterns

The occurrence of saturation in CR39 solid state nuclear track detectors has been systematically studied as a function of the incident ion (alpha particles and laser-accelerated protons) fluence and the etching time. When overexposed (i.e., for fluences above approximately 10(8) particles/cm(2)) and/or overetched, the CR39 detectors enter a saturated regime where direct track counting is not possible anymore. In this regime, optical measurements of saturated CR39 detectors become unreliable as well, since the optical response of the saturated detectors with respect to the ion fluence is highly nonlinear. This nonlinear optical response is likely due to scattering from the surface of irregular clumping patterns which have a diameter approximately 20 microm, i.e., ten times larger than the diameter of individual tracks. These patterns, which aggregate many individual tracks, are observed to develop in highly saturated regimes. For fluences typical of high energy short pulse laser experiments, saturation occurs, inducing the appearance of artifact ringlike structures. By careful microscopic analysis, these artifact ring patterns can be distinguished from the genuine rings occurring below saturation and characteristic of low energy laser accelerated proton beams.

Collisionless Shocks in a Large Magnetized Laser-Plasma Plume

Collisionless shock waves have been created in a large (~20 cm) magnetized laser-plasma plume using a pulsed Helmholtz coil and the unique three-beam capability of the Trident terawatt laser facility. A combination of sequential laser pulses creates, shocks, and probes a large magnetized plasma. The data show collisionless coupling between the super-Alfvénic laser blow-off cloud and the ambient plasma.

Investigation of high intensity laser proton acceleration with underdense targets

In the last few years, intense research has been conducted on laser-accelerated ion sources and their applications. Recently, experiments have shown that a gaseous target can produce proton beams with characteristics comparable to those obtained with solid targets. In underdense laser proton acceleration, volume effects dominate the acceleration, while in target normal sheath acceleration, the electric field value is directly related to the electron surface density. Using Particle-In-Cell simulations, we have studied in detail the effect of an underdense density gradient on proton acceleration with high intensity lasers. Underdense laser ion acceleration strongly depends on the length, the shape and the amplitude of the density gradient and on the laser pulse shape. The accelerated proton beam characteristics in the shock-like regime are very promising.

Passive tailoring of laser-accelerated ion beam cut-off energy by using double foil assembly

A double foil assembly is shown to be effective in tailoring the maximum energy produced by a laser-accelerated proton beam. The measurements compare favorably with adiabatic expansion simulations, and particle-in-cell simulations. The arrangement proposed here offers for some applications a simple and passive way to utilize simultaneously highest irradiance lasers that have best laser-to-ion conversion efficiency while avoiding the production of undesired high-energy ions.

Pyramidal Targets as an Advanced Radiation Source in Laser-Solid Interactions

A novel target with hollow pyramidal shape is studied as a radiation source of electrons, protons, and Kα x-rays. Experiments compare this source to flat foil and cone targets under similar laser conditions.

Enhanced laser-driven proton-acceleration from limited mass targets by high temporal contrast ultra-intense lasers

Beam optimization of laser‐accelerated protons is required to progress towards the development of applications, e.g. for fast ignition of fusion targets or dense plasma radiography. For this, three areas of improvement need to be pursued: increasing the maximum proton energy, enhancing the laser‐to‐protons conversion efficiency and reducing the beam divergence. Here we report on the reasoning which led us to envision limited size target to improve protons acceleration. We point out that pre plasma leakage from the target front side is a critical issue to allow efficient acceleration from such limited size targets and show that with very high temporal contrast laser pulses proton acceleration is improved in such targets.

Pyramidal targets as an advanced radiation source in laser-solid interactions

A novel target design utilizing hollow pyramid geometry is studied as a radiation source of electrons, protons, and Ka X-rays. Experiments compare this source to flat foil and circular cone targets under similar laser conditions.