“…Laser-driven proton acceleration using the developed rotating wheel target and automatic alignment procedure has been studied experimentally at 10 Hz using the setup schematically depicted in Figure 4. The experiments were performed utilizing the STELA laser system, hosted at the L2A2 (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela) [ 21 , 22 ] , which provided p-polarized, 800 nm-wavelength pulses at a repetition rate of 10 Hz, containing energies of up to 0.3 J on target, and compressed to a duration of approximately 40 fs.Figure 4 Schematic representation of the experimental setup used at the L2A2.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Furthermore, we describe the procedure implemented to ensure automatic shot-to-shot replenishment and realignment of each target at 10 Hz, based on a few-minute measurement for the pre-characterization of the shooting positions with a high-precision industrial sensor, which allows for the positioning of the targets on the focal plane with a precision of . Experimental results on laser-driven ion acceleration from the developed target and alignment method at the Laser Laboratory for Acceleration and Applications (L2A2) [ 21 , 22 ] are presented, demonstrating stable, continuous operation for more than 1000 shots with deviations in the cut-off energy of the measured proton spectra of approximately , limited by the stability of the laser system. The rest of the paper is structured as follows.…”
A multi-shot target assembly and automatic alignment procedure for laser-plasma proton acceleration at high repetition rate are introduced. The assembly is based on a multi-target rotating wheel capable of hosting more than 5000 targets, mounted on a 3D motorized stage to allow rapid replenishment and alignment of the target material between laser irradiations. The automatic alignment procedure consists of a detailed mapping of the impact positions at the target surface prior to the irradiation that ensures stable operation of the target, which alongside the purpose-built design of the target wheel, enables operation at rates up to 10 Hz. Stable and continuous laser-driven proton acceleration at 10 Hz is demonstrated, with observed cut-off energy stability about 15%.
“…Laser-driven proton acceleration using the developed rotating wheel target and automatic alignment procedure has been studied experimentally at 10 Hz using the setup schematically depicted in Figure 4. The experiments were performed utilizing the STELA laser system, hosted at the L2A2 (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela) [ 21 , 22 ] , which provided p-polarized, 800 nm-wavelength pulses at a repetition rate of 10 Hz, containing energies of up to 0.3 J on target, and compressed to a duration of approximately 40 fs.Figure 4 Schematic representation of the experimental setup used at the L2A2.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Furthermore, we describe the procedure implemented to ensure automatic shot-to-shot replenishment and realignment of each target at 10 Hz, based on a few-minute measurement for the pre-characterization of the shooting positions with a high-precision industrial sensor, which allows for the positioning of the targets on the focal plane with a precision of . Experimental results on laser-driven ion acceleration from the developed target and alignment method at the Laser Laboratory for Acceleration and Applications (L2A2) [ 21 , 22 ] are presented, demonstrating stable, continuous operation for more than 1000 shots with deviations in the cut-off energy of the measured proton spectra of approximately , limited by the stability of the laser system. The rest of the paper is structured as follows.…”
A multi-shot target assembly and automatic alignment procedure for laser-plasma proton acceleration at high repetition rate are introduced. The assembly is based on a multi-target rotating wheel capable of hosting more than 5000 targets, mounted on a 3D motorized stage to allow rapid replenishment and alignment of the target material between laser irradiations. The automatic alignment procedure consists of a detailed mapping of the impact positions at the target surface prior to the irradiation that ensures stable operation of the target, which alongside the purpose-built design of the target wheel, enables operation at rates up to 10 Hz. Stable and continuous laser-driven proton acceleration at 10 Hz is demonstrated, with observed cut-off energy stability about 15%.
“…The Laser Laboratory for Acceleration and Applications (L2A2) is a recently-built infrastructure at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC) for the investigation of laser-plasma interaction, which hosts a clean room, laboratory for development of acceleration targets and beam diagnostics, and a radio-protected experimental hall (Fig. 1) [5]. The core facility of L2A2 is STELA (Santiago TErawatt LAser), a compact Ti:Sapphire laser system built by Thales (Alpha 10/XS).…”
In recent years, laser-driven accelerators have emerged as a promising technology for the development of compact and cost-effective sources of high-energy particles and radiation. Here, we introduce our research programme at the Laser Laboratory for Acceleration and Applications, which focusses on high-power laser systems, development of high-repetition rate targetry, and biomedical applications of laser-based accelerators. Our recent results include the generation of high-energy proton and ion beams through laser-plasma acceleration, which have potential applications in materials activation for medical imaging. We have also investigated the feasibility of using laser-driven X-rays and ion beams for radiobiological research, including FLASH therapy and hadron therapy.
“…We used the low energy line of the laser system (THALES ALPHA 10/XS, 1 mJ, 35 fs, 1 kHz, 800 nm) installed at the Laser Laboratory for Acceleration and Applications (L2A2) at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) [39] . The s-polarized laser pulses were guided and focused onto the target at 45 • from the normal, in a vacuum-free environment, with an f /1 microscope objective (Mitutoyo, M Plan APO NIR 20×).…”
We report the development of a stable high-average power X-ray source generated by the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses (35 fs, 1 mJ, 1 kHz) with a solid target in air. The achieved source stability, which is essential for the applications foreseen for these laser-driven plasma accelerators, is due to the combination of precise positioning of the target on focus and the development of a fast rotating target system able to ensure the refreshment of the material at every shot while minimizing positioning errors with respect to the focal spot. This vacuum-free laser-plasma X-ray source provides an average dose rate of 1.5 Sv/h at 30 cm and a repeatability better than 93% during more than 36 min of continuous operation per target.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
