Targets for high repetition rate laser facilities: needs, challenges and perspectives

Prencipe, Irene; Fuchs, Julien; Pascarelli, S.; Schumacher, Douglass; Stephens, R. B.; Alexander, Neil B.; Briggs, R.J.; Büscher, M.; Cernaianu, Mihail; Шукуров, А. Х.; Marco, Massimo De; Erbe, Artur; Faßbender, J.; Fiquet, G.; Fitzsimmons, P.; Gheorghiu, C. C.; Hund, J. F.; Huang, Lingen; Harmand, M.; Hartley, N. J.; Irman, Arie; Kluge, T.; Konôpková, Zuzana; Kraft, Stephan; Kraus, D.; Leca, V.; Margarone, D.; Metzkes, J.; Nagai, Keiji; Nazarov, W.; Lutoslawski, P.; Papp, D.; Passoni, M.; Pełka, A.; Perin, J. P.; Schulz, Joachim; Šmíd, Michal; Spindloe, C.; Steinke, S.; Torchio, R.; Vass, Csaba; Wiste, Tuomas E.; Zaffino, R.; Zeil, Karl; Tschentscher, Th.; Schramm, U.; Cowan, T. E.

doi:10.1017/hpl.2017.18

Cited by 126 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 161 publications

(217 reference statements)

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“…Current limitations of LPI repetition-rate pose significant problems for the translation of proof-of-concept laser experiments into real-world applications [29]. To address the issue, recent efforts are moving both lasers [30] and targets [31] used in ion acceleration toward repetition rates of order a Hz [32,33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MeV proton acceleration at kHz repetition rate from ultra-intense laser liquid interaction

et al. 2018

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We regret overlooking two important citations relevant to the current work, and wish to add these [1, 2]. We also cite [3], which reports crucial experimental parameters pertaining to [1], e.g. chamber pressure during water target experiment. To correct the oversight of missing references, the 4th paragraph of the introduction follows with modified and additional text underlined:Liquid targets have a number of attractive features for meeting these needs. Liquid targets can be rapidly delivered into the interaction region, and mitigate debris [31,[34][35][36]. This is well illustrated by the pioneering research in [1, 3], who, for the first time combined a kHz, femtosecond laser and liquid jet targets with a long-term vision of developing integrated sources of energetic radiation and particles for future applications. They reported the production of 9.25 keV x-rays from the interaction of a kHz, 50 fs pulsed laser interacting with a liquid Ga jet target. They also reported the use of CR39 film to record the production of 500 keV protons from the interaction of the kHz laser with an intensity of 3×10 16 W cm −2 focused on a 10-30μm diameter water jet, with a background chamber pressure of 0.7-3 mbar. The proton production efficiency of 10 −5 % was reported. Prior to switching to the liquid sheet target described in our current work, we attempted to obtain protons from the interaction of 15-30μm diameter water jets with a 40 fs pulsed laser focused to an intensity of 1×10 18 W cm −2 . We recorded many tracks on the CR39 film but, when a magnetic spectrometer was used, all of the tracks were shown to be due to electrons. As noted in this paper, we later discovered that the chamber background pressure required to produce a significant flux of protons was below the freeze point pressure of water.Skip to the end of the last sentence of the paragraph and add as the last sentence of the paragraph: the ability to generate a well collimated proton beam with proton energies greater than 500 keV has recently been demonstrated [2], using a high repetition rate 0.5 kHz, 3 mJ, 55 fs laser interacting with a solid target. The focus intensity was 2×10 18 W cm −2 . A proton beam was generated at the front surface of a rotating optical quality glass disk at a chamber pressure of 3×10 −3 mbar. AbstractLaser acceleration of ions to MeV energies has been achieved on a variety of Petawatt laser systems, raising the prospect of ion beam applications using compact ultra-intense laser technology. However, translation from proof-of-concept laser experiment into real-world application requires MeV-scale ion energies and an appreciable repetition rate (>Hz). We demonstrate, for the first time, proton acceleration up to 2 MeV energies at a kHz repetition rate using a milli-joule-class short-pulse laser system. In these experiments, 5 mJ of ultrashort-pulse laser energy is delivered at an intensity neaŕ -5 10 W cm 18 2 onto a thin-sheet, liquid-density target. Key to this effort is a flowing liquid ethylene glycol target formed i...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MeV proton acceleration at kHz repetition rate from ultra-intense laser liquid interaction

et al. 2018

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“…Adding a beryllium converter, we estimate that the laser-driven neutron source described in this work could provide ∼5×10 5 neutrons per laser shot if 10 10 protons are accelerated to energies above the reaction threshold. Adopting targetry solutions analogous to those described in [70,78] should allow operation of such a neutron source in a repetitive regime, for at least ∼10 3 laser shots. Since compact 50 TW laser systems able to attain a repetition rate of ∼10 Hz are commercially available [79], we estimate a neutron flux of ∼5×10 6 n s −1 sustained for ∼10 2 s to be within reach of existing technology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scanning electron microscope picture of a nanostructured low-density foam similar to those used in [48,49]. (d) 3D particle-in-cell simulations are used to model laser-driven ion acceleration (reproduced with permission from [70]). (e) Laser-accelerated ions are fed into the Geant4 Monte Carlo code to simulate neutron generation in a beryllium converter.…”

Section: Particle-in-cell Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced laser-driven hadron sources with nanostructured double-layer targets

et al. 2020

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Laser-driven ion sources are approaching the requirements for several applications in materials and nuclear science. Relying on compact, table-top, femtosecond laser systems is pivotal to enable most of these applications. However, the moderate intensity of these systems (I10 19 W cm −2 ) could lead to insufficient energy and total charge of the accelerated ions. The use of solid foils coated with a nanostructured near-critical layer is emerging as a promising targeted solution to enhance the energy and the total charge of the accelerated ions. For an appropriate theoretical understanding of this acceleration scheme, a realistic description of the nanostructure is essential, also to precisely assess its role in the physical processes at play. Here, by means of 3D particle-in-cell simulations, we investigate ion acceleration in this scenario, assessing the role of different realistic nanostructure morphologies, such as fractal-like foams and nanowire forests. With respect to a simple flat foil, the presence of a nanostructure allows for up to a×3 increase of the maximum ion energy and for a significant increase of the conversion efficiency of laser energy into ion kinetic energy. Simulations show also that the details of the nanostructure morphology affect both the maximum energy of the ions and their angular distribution. Furthermore, combined 3D particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo simulations show that if accelerated ions are used for neutron generation with a beryllium converter, double-layer nanostructured targets allow to greatly enhance the neutron yield. These results suggest that nanostructured double-layer targets could be an essential component to enable applications of hadron sources driven by compact, table-top lasers. feasibility of laser-driven ion beam analysis for non-destructive materials characterization. Laser-driven ion sources have been considered to test electronic components in a harsh radiation environment [18], for thermal stress testing [19], to study ultra-fast dynamics in irradiated materials [20,21], and for materials synthesis [22,23]. Ultrashort pulsed neutron sources driven by laser-accelerated ions [24-32] have been investigated for applications such as fast neutron spectroscopy [33] and radiography [34].What make these applications particularly attractive are the requirements for the ion source. Energies of few MeVs are perfectly suitable for several ion beam analysis techniques [35] or to generate neutrons with a lithium [36] or beryllium [37] converter. Moreover, for selected applications, the inherently broad energy spectrum of a laser-driven ion source [2] is not detrimental [15,17] and could even be beneficial [18]. Maximum ion energies of ∼1 MeV have been recently demonstrated even with commercial, sub-terawatt laser systems [38]. These lasersystems are truly table-top and can operate at a high repetition rate (kiloHertz). Relying on these systems could make laser-driven ion sources portable and competitive with conventional accelerators, paving the way for their widesprea...

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“…On the one hand, the target gets destroyed by every shot and needs to be replaced. Various techniques like tape-targets, arrays or re-growing thin foils were demonstrated by different groups [10]. On the other hand, the target material evaporated during the interaction causes debris and shrapnel, which damages optics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the parameter dependence of laser-accelerated protons from a hydrogen cluster source

et al. 2020

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We present a study on laser-driven proton acceleration from a hydrogen cluster target. Aiming for the optimisation of the proton source, we performed a detailed parametric scan of the interaction conditions by varying different laser and the target parameters. While the underlying process of a Coulomb-explosion delivers moderate energies, in the range of 100 s of keV, the use of hydrogen as target material comes with the benefit of a debris-free, single-species proton acceleration scheme, enabling high repetition-rate experiments, which are very robust against shot-to-shot fluctuations. OPEN ACCESS RECEIVED

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Targets for high repetition rate laser facilities: needs, challenges and perspectives

Cited by 126 publications

References 161 publications

MeV proton acceleration at kHz repetition rate from ultra-intense laser liquid interaction

MeV proton acceleration at kHz repetition rate from ultra-intense laser liquid interaction

Enhanced laser-driven hadron sources with nanostructured double-layer targets

Study of the parameter dependence of laser-accelerated protons from a hydrogen cluster source

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