基于带电粒子活化法开展的SGⅡ-U皮秒激光质子加速实验研究

基于带电粒子活化测谱方法在SGⅡ-U装置上开展了皮秒激光靶背鞘场机制质子加速实验研究,对靶参数进行了优化.利用带电粒子活化测谱方法测量了相同激光条件、不同Cu薄膜靶厚度情况下靶背鞘场加速质子的最高截止能量、角分布、总产额以及激光能量到质子的转化效率等关键参数.实验发现,SGⅡ-U皮秒激光靶背鞘场加速机制的最佳Cu薄膜靶厚度为10 μm,对应质子最高能量接近40 MeV,质子（>4 MeV）总产额约4×10¹²个,激光能量到质子的转化效率约2%.薄膜靶更厚或者更薄都会降低加速质子的最高截止能量;当靶厚减薄至1 μm时,皮秒激光的预脉冲开始对靶背鞘场产生显著影响,质子最高截止能量急剧下降,高能质子束斑呈现空心结构;而当靶厚增加至35 μm时,虽然质子束的能量有所降低,但是质子束斑的均匀性更好.     

飞秒激光中高能质子的产生与加速的研究

为了探索飞秒激光与固体靶相互作用中高能质子的产生和加速机制,在超短超强激光装置“SILEX-I”上进行了飞秒激光与平面固体薄膜Cu靶的相互作用中高能质子空间分布、能谱和产额的实验研究。实验采用固体核径迹探测器CR39和Thomson离子谱仪相结合的方式,在固体靶背表面法线方向测量了质子空间分布、能谱和产额。实验结果表明：质子沿着靶背法线方向发射,质子空间分布呈圆环状,存在一定的立体角;质子在一定能量处出现截断;截断能量的大小与靶厚度有关。经分析,高能离子的产生和加速是多种作用机制共同作用的结果,其中静电场中的TNSA加速机制则占主导地位。     

飞秒激光中高能质子的产生与加速的研究

为了探索飞秒激光与固体靶相互作用中高能质子的产生和加速机制,在超短超强激光装置“SILEX-I”上进行了飞秒激光与平面固体薄膜Cu靶的相互作用中高能质子空间分布、能谱和产额的实验研究。实验采用固体核径迹探测器CR39和Thomson离子谱仪相结合的方式,在固体靶背表面法线方向测量了质子空间分布、能谱和产额。实验结果表明：质子沿着靶背法线方向发射,质子空间分布呈圆环状,存在一定的立体角;质子在一定能量处出现截断;截断能量的大小与靶厚度有关。经分析,高能离子的产生和加速是多种作用机制共同作用的结果,其中静电场中的TNSA加速机制则占主导地位。     

质子初始位置对激光平面靶相互作用加速质子的影响(英)

为了更细致地理解鞘场质子加速机制,应用2维数值模拟程序Flips2D研究了质子的初始位置对加速以后质子束特性的影响。数值模拟结果表明:质子的初始位置对质子束特性的影响非常明显。质子的出射角与其在横向的初始位置有关,初始位置离激光轴越远,其出射角越大。     

激光加速质子束对电磁孤立子的照相模拟研究

激光在次稠密等离子中传输, 由于频率下移而被俘获, 从而产生电磁孤立子. 根据先前理论及PIC 模拟给出的孤立子的演化过程, 对不同阶段孤立子的电磁场分布进行了建模. 使用Geant4蒙特卡罗程序, 模拟研究了激光加速产生的能量为几个MeV的质子束对后孤立子的照相. 分析了质子能量, 质子源尺寸等因素对照相结果的影响, 并利用了TNSA加速产生质子束的分幅特性, 开展了时间分辨的孤立子照相模拟研究. 模拟给出的质子照相结果验证了文献中给出的孤立子静电场模型, 为以后在实验上探测孤立子提供了理论依据. 关键词： 超短激光 质子照相 孤立子 蒙特卡罗方法     

Proton Beam Generated by Multi-Lasers Interaction with Rear-Holed Target

Multi-lasers are proposed to enhance the proton acceleration in laser plasma interaction. A rear-holed target is illuminated by three lasers from different directions. The scheme is demonstrated by two-dimensional particlein-cell simulations. The electron cloud shape is controlled well and the electron density is improved significantly. The electrons accelerated by the three lasers induce an enhanced target normal sheath acceleration(TNSA) which suppresses the proton beam divergence and improves the maximum proton energy. The maximum proton energy is 22.9 Me V, which increased significantly than that of a single-laser target interaction. Meanwhile, the average divergence angle(22.3?) is reduced. The dependence of the proton beam on the length of sidewall is investigated in detail and the optimal length is obtained.     

神光Ⅱ升级装置激光加速质子照相初步实验研究

在神光Ⅱ升级装置上开展了首轮激光加速质子对间接驱动快点火靶内爆过程的照相实验研究。通过激光与靶参数的优化,获得了能量高于18 MeV的质子束。通过静态客体的照相,获得了优于20 m的高空间分辨网格图像,为开展时间分辨的啁啾质子照相奠定了基础。开展了质子动态照相实验,获得了内爆压缩晚期的质子照相图像。实验发现内爆区域质子照相图像存在大量排空现象。内爆压缩区域不足以阻挡如此大范围质子束,证明了其中存在电磁场使得质子向外排开。动态照相的质子能量较低,分析是ns激光打靶过程产生的X射线及等离子体对质子加速存在影响。后续实验中需要进一步优化靶的屏蔽设计。     

强激光与双锥靶作用加速准单能质子束

提出了一种新型的双锥靶结构用于准单能质子束加速。利用二维PIC粒子模拟程序研究了强激光与双锥靶作用加速产生质子束的物理过程以及质子束品质。双锥靶产生的质子束在峰值能量和发散角度等方面都明显优于相同激光条件下单锥靶和平面靶的结果。尤其与平面靶相比,双锥靶质子束的峰值能量提高了5倍以上,而且很好地保持准单能性。一方面双锥靶的内锥部分是临界密度材料,提高了激光的吸收效率;另一方面双锥靶内形成了更强的准静态磁场,可以约束引导更多的超热电子传输过锥尖,进而增强加速质子束的鞘层电场。     

飞秒激光与薄膜Cu靶作用时质子能谱实验

采用飞秒激光辐照固体薄膜Cu靶的方式对质子束的产生及质子束能谱开展了实验研究。在SILEX-Ⅰ飞秒激光装置上,保持脉宽为30 fs不变,测量了不同激光能量和功率密度下辐照7 m Cu靶时的质子能谱。研究结果表明:质子沿着靶背法线方向发射,质子在一定能量处出现截断;随着质子束能量的增加,质子束流减小;轰击厚为7 m的Cu靶时,激光能量越大则质子束流越强;随着激光功率密度的增加,质子截止能也随之增加。     

Protons and carbon ions acceleration in the target-normal-sheath-acceleration regime using low-contrast fs laser and metal-graphene targets

fs pulsed lasers at an intensity of the order of 10¹⁸ W/cm², with a contrast of 10⁻⁵, were employed to irradiate thin foils to study the target-normal-sheath-acceleration (TNSA) regime. The forward ion acceleration was investigated using 1/11 µm thickness foils composed of a metallic sheet on which a thin reduced graphene oxide film with 10 nm thickness was deposited by single or both faces. The forward-accelerated ions were detected using SiC semiconductors connected in time-of-flight configuration. The use of intense and long pre-pulse generating the low contrast does not permit to accelerate protons above 1 MeV because it produces a pre-plasma destroying the foil, and the successive main laser pulse interacts with the expanding plasma and not with the overdense solid surface. Experimental results demonstrated that the maximum proton energies of about 700 keV and of 4.2 MeV carbon ions and higher were obtained under the condition of the optimal acceleration procedure. The measurements of ion energy and charge states confirm that the acceleration per charge state is measurable from the proton energy, confirming the Coulomb–Boltzmann-shifted theoretical model. However, heavy ions cannot be accelerated due to their mass and low velocity, which does not permit them to be subjected to the fast and high developed electric field driving the light-ion acceleration. The ion acceleration can be optimized based on the laser focal positioning and on the foil thickness, composition, and structure, as it will be presented and discussed.     

100 TW激光与等离子体相互作用中质子背向发射的能谱测量

 用100 TW激光器产生的超短超强激光与5 μm薄膜Cu靶的进行打靶实验，测量了靶背法线方向产生质子的角分布和能谱。实验中采用辐射变色膜片HD810测量质子的角分布，用CR39和Thomson磁谱仪结合测量质子能量分布。测量结果表明：质子发射张角为10°左右，质子沿着靶背法线方向发射，在能量为570 keV处出现截断。通过测量质子能量分布验证了超短超强激光等离子体相互作用过程中靶背法线鞘层质子加速机制。     

Development of a laser-driven proton accelerator for cancer therapy

Recent advances in laser technology have made proton (light ion) acceleration possible using laser-induced plasmas. In this work, we report our work for the last few years on the investigation of a new proton therapy system for radiation oncology, which employs laser-accelerated protons. If successfully developed, the new system will be compact, cost-effective, and capable of delivering energy-and intensity-modulated proton therapy (EIMPT). We have focused our research on three major aspects: (1) target design for laser-proton acceleration, (2) system design for particle/energy selection and beam collimation, and (3) dosimetric studies on the use of laser-accelerated protons for cancer therapy. We have performed particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to investigate optimal target configurations for proton/ion acceleration. We also performed Monte Carlo simulations to study the beam characteristics and the feasibility of using such beams for cancer treatment. Since laser-accelerated protons have broad energy and angular distributions, which are not suitable for radiotherapy applications directly, we have designed a compact particle selection and beam collimating system for EIMPT beam delivery. We also proposed a new gantry design to make the whole system compact to retrofit existing linac vaults. We have compared Monte Carlo calculated dose distributions using X-ray IMRT and laser-proton EIMPT. Our results show that EIMPT using laser protons produces superior target coverage and much reduced critical structure dose and integral dose compared to X-ray IMRT.     

短脉冲强激光打靶产生的质子角分布实验研究

 采用短脉冲强激光辐照固体双层薄靶的方式对质子束的产生及质子束角分布开展了实验研究。在SILEX-Ⅰ短脉冲激光装置上利用脉宽为30 fs的强激光辐照背面镀有CH膜的金膜靶,在距离靶背3.3 cm处采用CR39记录靶背出射的质子角分布。通过分析靶背出射质子的角分布,研究了激光功率密度和对比度对质子加速机制的影响。研究结果表明:占主导地位的质子产生和加速机制对激光预脉冲比较敏感。激光预脉冲较弱时,靶背壳电场加速机制占主导地位;当激光预脉冲较强时,靶前加速机制占主导地位。此外,还对导致质子环形分布的磁场大小进行了估算。     

用20—1020 keV单能质子刻度CR-39固体核径迹探测器

用北京师范大学2×1.7MV串列加速器和400 kV高压倍加器产生的20—1020 keV单能质子束对CR-39固体核径迹探测器进行了刻度.为了保证质子的单能性和固体核径迹探测器上径迹密度不能超过10⁶/cm²的要求,对两台加速器分别采用了不同方法控制质子辐照数量.在串列加速器上采用了狭缝加转盘的方法,在高压倍加器上采用了100 ns单次高压脉冲扫描束流的方法,既保持了质子的单色性,又达到了质子注量小于10⁶/cm²的 关键词： 单能质子 固体核径迹探测器 CR-39     

Brunel-dominated proton acceleration with a few-cycle laser pulse

Experimental measurements of backward accelerated protons are presented. The beam is produced when an ultrashort (5 fs) laser pulse, delivered by a kHz laser system, with a high temporal contrast (10(8)), interacts with a thick solid target. Under these conditions, proton cutoff energy dependence with laser parameters, such as pulse energy, polarization (from p to s), and pulse duration (from 5 to 500 fs), is studied. Theoretical model and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, in good agreement with a large set of experimental results, indicate that proton acceleration is directly driven by Brunel electrons, in contrast to conventional target normal sheath acceleration that relies on electron thermal pressure.     

Generation of fast protons in moderate-intensity laser－plasma interaction from rear sheath

Forward fast protons are generated by the moderate-intensity laser--foil interaction. Protons with maximum energy 190~keV are measured by using magnetic spectrometer and CR-39 solid state track detectors along the direction normal to the rear surface. The experimental results are also modeled by the particle-in-cell method, investigating the time-varying electron temperature and the rear sheath field. The temporal and spatial structure of the sheath electrical field, revealed in the simulation, suggests that these protons are accelerated by target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) mechanism.     

Application of proton radiography in experiments of relevance to inertial confinement fusion

Multi-Mev proton beams generated by target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) during the interaction of an ultra intense laser beam (I≥10¹⁹ W/cm²) with a thin metallic foil (thickness of the order of a few tens of microns) are particularly suited as a particle probe for laser plasma experiments. The proton imaging technique employs a laser-driven proton beam in a point-projection imaging scheme as a diagnostic tool for the detection of electric fields in such experiments. The proton probing technique has been applied in experiments of relevance to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) such as laser heated gasbags and laser-hohlraum experiments. The data provides direct information on the onset of laser beam filamentation and on the plasma expansion in the hohlraum’s interior, and confirms the suitability and usefulness of this technique as an ICF diagnostic.     

Influence of the laser prepulse on proton acceleration in thin-foil experiments

We investigate the influence of the laser prepulse due to amplified spontaneous emission on the acceleration of protons in thin-foil experiments. We show that changing the prepulse duration has a profound effect on the maximum proton energy. We find an optimal value for the target thickness, which strongly depends on the prepulse duration. At this optimal thickness, the rear side acceleration process leads to the highest proton energies, while this mechanism is rendered ineffective for thinner targets due to a prepulse-induced plasma formation at the rear side. In this case, the protons are primarily accelerated by the front side mechanism leading to lower cutoff energies.     

Effect of target composition on proton energy spectra in ultraintense laser-solid interactions

We study how the proton density in a target irradiated by an ultraintense laser affects the proton spectrum, with analytical models and Vlasov simulations. A low relative proton density gives rise to peaks in the energy spectrum. Furthermore, a target with the protons confined to a thin, low density layer produces a quasimonoenergetic spectrum. This is a simple technique for producing proton beams with a narrow energy spread for proton radiography of laser-plasma interactions.     

通道靶对超强激光加速质子束的聚焦效应

发散角过大是制约超强激光与固体靶相互作用加速产生高能质子束应用的一个重大物理难题.本文提出了一种结构化的通道靶型,与超强激光相互作用可提高质子束的发散特性,通道壁上产生的横向电荷分离静电场可对质子有效聚焦.采用二维particle-in-cell粒子模拟程序对激光通道靶相互作用过程进行了研究,分析了加速质子束的性能特点.模拟结果表明,与传统平面靶相比,通道靶可以在不过多损失能量的情况下产生具有更好准直性的质子束,尤其当通道靶的直径与激光焦斑尺寸和质子源尺寸相当时,横向静电场能够有效聚焦质子束,并且可保证相对较高的激光能量利用率.