10.1007/s11450-008-3006-3

Abstract

The results of experiments devoted to studying the generation of MeV photons and protons in picosecond laser plasmas at a laser beam intensity of 10 18 W/cm 2 on Be, Ta, LiF and H 7 Li targets are presented. Nuclear reactions (γ, n) and (p, n) were used to detect MeV photons and protons. The number of MeV photons and protons generated in laser plasmas was found from the measured neutron yield. Possibilities of particle acceleration due to the formation of pinch structures in laser plasmas are discussed. Calculated and experimental results are compared.