Proton Acceleration Associated with Sheet Crossing in Petawatt-Laser-Irradiated Nanometer Foils

We explored the physics of efficient proton acceleration in a nanometer-thick polymer foil irradiated by an ultrahigh-contrast petawatt laser pulse. The longitudinal proton dynamics were experimentally investigated, indicating the acceleration of protons to over 90 MeV by a novel scheme associated with sheet crossing. Experimental evidence, such as a ringlike distribution of the most energetic protons and a reduced proton cutoff energy from diamondlike carbon foils, revealed that the highest-energy protons originated from the target forepart. Then, after a sheet crossing process inside a drifting longitudinal electric field induced by the laser, they overtook the protons from the rear surface. Such novel longitudinal dynamics of protons, supporting a favorable beam stability and a promising energy scaling, could prompt extensive applications of laser-accelerated protons.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical Review Letters
Published
2025-11-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/8lmb-x3ss
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.87
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article

Proton Acceleration Associated with Sheet Crossing in Petawatt-Laser-Irradiated Nanometer Foils

Seong Ku Lee, Yinren Shou, Il Woo Choi, Jae Hee Sung et al.
1 citations
Physical Review Letters
Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
1.87
article

Proton Acceleration Associated with Sheet Crossing in Petawatt-Laser-Irradiated Nanometer Foils

Seong Ku Lee, Yinren Shou, Il Woo Choi, Jae Hee Sung, Seong Hoon Kim, Zheng Gong, Xueqing Yan, Ki Hong Pae, Chang Hee Nam, Xuezhi Wu, Jin Woo Yoon, Seung Yeon Kim
article en
1 citations

Abstract

We explored the physics of efficient proton acceleration in a nanometer-thick polymer foil irradiated by an ultrahigh-contrast petawatt laser pulse. The longitudinal proton dynamics were experimentally investigated, indicating the acceleration of protons to over 90 MeV by a novel scheme associated with sheet crossing. Experimental evidence, such as a ringlike distribution of the most energetic protons and a reduced proton cutoff energy from diamondlike carbon foils, revealed that the highest-energy protons originated from the target forepart. Then, after a sheet crossing process inside a drifting longitudinal electric field induced by the laser, they overtook the protons from the rear surface. Such novel longitudinal dynamics of protons, supporting a favorable beam stability and a promising energy scaling, could prompt extensive applications of laser-accelerated protons.

Physical Review LettersVol. 135(21)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Peking University (CN), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Institute for Basic Science (KR), Institute of Theoretical Physics (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
1.87
DOISourceOpenAlex
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