Ultrahigh-intensity laser-produced plasmas as a compact heavy ioninjection source

The possibility of using high-intensity laser-produced plasmas as a source of energetic ions for heavy ion accelerators is addressed. Experiments have shown that neon ions greater than 6 MeV can be produced from gas jet plasmas, and well-collimated proton beams greater than 20 MeV have been produced from high intensity laser solid interactions. The proton beams from the back of thin targets appear to be more collimated and reproducible than are high-energy ions generated in the ablated plasma at the front of the target and may be more suitable for ion injection applications. Lead ions have been produced at energies up to 430 MeV     

Nuclear Physics with 10 PW laser beams at Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP)

The field of the uncharted territory of high-intensity laser interaction with matter is confronted with new exotic phenomena and, consequently, opens new research perspectives. The intense laser beams interacting with a gas or solid target generate beams of electrons, protons and ions. These beams can induce nuclear reactions. Electrons also generate ions high-energy photons via bremsstrahlung processes which can also induce nuclear reactions. In this context a new research domain began to form in the last decade or so, namely nuclear physics with high power lasers. The observation of high brilliance proton beams of tens of MeV energy from solid targets has stimulated an intense research activity. The laser-driven particle beams have to compete with conventional nuclear accelerator-generated beams. The ultimate goal is aiming at applications of the laser produced beams in research, technology and medicine. The mechanism responsible for ion acceleration are currently subject of intensive research in many laboratories in the world. The existing results, experimental and theoretical, and their perspectives are reviewed in this article in the context of IZEST and the scientific program of ELI-NP.     

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.     

利用CR39上的径迹鉴别激光加速离子产物

分别利用单能的质子束及碳离子束辐照CR39,并制定了规范的刻蚀条件及流程。通过对处理完成后的数据进行详细处理,得到了质子及碳离子的径迹直径-能量的响应曲线,可用于确定CR39上质子或碳离子的能量。以此为依据,得到了鉴别CR39上质子及碳离子的有效方法。在激光加速离子的实验中,通过测量CR39上的径迹大小及相对灰度,利用本文给出的标定数据,确认了质子径迹,得到了实验的质子能谱。     

利用CR39上的径迹鉴别激光加速离子产物

分别利用单能的质子束及碳离子束辐照CR39,并制定了规范的刻蚀条件及流程。通过对处理完成后的数据进行详细处理,得到了质子及碳离子的径迹直径-能量的响应曲线,可用于确定CR39上质子或碳离子的能量。以此为依据,得到了鉴别CR39上质子及碳离子的有效方法。在激光加速离子的实验中,通过测量CR39上的径迹大小及相对灰度,利用本文给出的标定数据,确认了质子径迹,得到了实验的质子能谱。     

fs激光在靶背表面产生的质子束成丝

介绍了利用3TW/60fs钛宝石超短超强激光与20μm铜薄膜靶相互作用的实验。实验观测到质子束的角分布随激光功率密度有所变化。在较高的功率密度（～1×1018 W/cm2）时,观测到环状的质子束分布,发散角较大。在较低的激光功率密度（～2×1017 W/cm2）时,质子束发散角减小,质子束出现成丝现象。质子束的角分布实际上反映了从靶前输运到靶背的超热电子电流横向分布。在输运过程中,由于Weibel不稳定性会使超热电子电流出现空心化并最后破裂成丝。     

Radiation-pressure acceleration of ion beams from nanofoil targets: the leaky light-sail regime

A new ion radiation-pressure acceleration regime, the "leaky light sail," is proposed which uses sub-skin-depth nanometer foils irradiated by circularly polarized laser pulses. In the regime, the foil is partially transparent, continuously leaking electrons out along with the transmitted laser field. This feature can be exploited by a multispecies nanofoil configuration to stabilize the acceleration of the light ion component, supplementing the latter with an excess of electrons leaked from those associated with the heavy ions to avoid Coulomb explosion. It is shown by 2D particle-in-cell simulations that a monoenergetic proton beam with energy 18 MeV is produced by circularly polarized lasers at intensities of just 101? W/cm2. 100 MeV proton beams are obtained by increasing the intensities to 2 × 102? W/cm2.     

fs激光在靶背表面产生的质子束成丝

 介绍了利用3TW/60fs钛宝石超短超强激光与20μm铜薄膜靶相互作用的实验。实验观测到质子束的角分布随激光功率密度有所变化。在较高的功率密度（～1×10¹⁸ W/cm²）时，观测到环状的质子束分布，发散角较大。在较低的激光功率密度（～2×10¹⁷ W/cm²）时，质子束发散角减小，质子束出现成丝现象。质子束的角分布实际上反映了从靶前输运到靶背的超热电子电流横向分布。在输运过程中，由于Weibel不稳定性会使超热电子电流出现空心化并最后破裂成丝。     

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.     

Generating Proton Beams Exceeding 10 MeV Using High Contrast 60TW Laser

A prototype of a laser driven proton accelerator is built at Peking University. Protons exceeding 10 MeV are accelerated from micrometer-thick aluminum targets irradiated by tightly focused laser pulse with 1.8 J energy and 30 fs duration. The beam energy spectrum and charge distribution are measured by a Thomson parabola spectrometer and radiochromic film stacks. The sensitivity of proton cut-off energy to the focusing of the laser beam, the pulse duration, and the foil thickness are systematically investigated in the experiments. Stable proton beams have been produced with an optimized parameter set, providing a cornerstone for the future applications of laser accelerated protons.     

Particle acceleration in ultra-intense laser plasma interaction

The acceleration of electrons in laser plasma interaction has been observed since the seventies, when it was initially considered as a deleterious effect, as, in the inertial fusion context, the so-called suprathermal electrons preheat the target. However, it has been quickly observed that a large benefit could be taken from these electrons. Two main directions are now followed. In the first direction, one tries to accelerate electrons to high energy, presently in the GeV range. The electrons may originate from a pre-accelerated beam, or directly from a gas target instantaneously transformed in a plasma by the ultra-intense laser pulse. In the second direction, one tries to transfer the energy of the electrons to fast ions, especially protons, presently in the few tens of MeV range. Thin targets are used for this transformation, the electrons being accelerated at the front of the target, while the ions may originate from the front part or the back part of the target, or from inside the target, depending on the parameters of the experiment. While the maximum energy was the initial goal of the pioneer experiments, there are now strong experimental efforts to improve the quality of the beams, in terms of luminosity, emittance, and energy spectrum. In the recent years, quasi-monoenergetic beams were obtained both for electrons and for ions.     

Demonstration of fusion-evaporation and direct-interaction nuclear reactions using high-intensity laser-plasma-accelerated ion beams

Heavy-ion induced nuclear reactions in materials exposed to energetic ions produced from high-intensity (approximately 5 x 10(19) W/cm(2)) laser-solid interactions have been experimentally investigated for the first time. Many of the radionuclides produced result from the creation of "compound nuclei" with the subsequent evaporation of proton, neutron, and alpha particles. Results are compared with previous measurements with monochromatic ion beams from a conventional accelerator. Measured nuclide yields are used to diagnose the acceleration of ions from laser-ablated plasma to energies greater than 100 MeV.     

Simulation of Ion Paths in the Target Material for the Injection Complex of the BELA Facility

To realize the simulation experiments with the use of two ion beams at the injection complex of the BELA accelerator (Based on ECR ion source Linear Accelerator), it is necessary to determine the energy and irradiation angle of the beam of light ions which will be implanted into the region of radiation damage induced by heavy-ion beam. The depth of light-ion implantation is determined by the energy and kind of particles initiating the damage, as well as by their incidence angle. It is supposed that the incidence direction of heavy ions will coincide with the normal to the specimen surface. In our work, the necessary implantation zone for the iron ion beam with an energy of 3.2 MeV is located at depths of 300–800 nm. The simulation of the hydrogen and helium ion paths in the material of the iron target in the energy range from 150 to 600 keV at the angle to the normal from 0° to 65° is performed. The range of energies and irradiation angles for the hydrogen and helium ions are determined for the implantation into the radiation-induced defect-formation zone.     

兰州重离子加速器冷却储存环

 兰州重离子加速器冷却储存环HIRFL-CSR,是一个多用途、多功能的双冷却储存环同步加速器系统,由主环CSRm和实验环CSRe构成,并以兰州重离子级联回旋加速器HIRFL作注入器。CSR利用高频变谐波的方法,将重离子束的能量从7～25 MeV/u同步加速到２00～1 000 MeV/u,同时利用重离子储存环中空心电子束冷却技术将束流品质提高１个数量级,并通过储存环的快引出及慢引出,提供多种类的重离子束以及放射性次级束(RIBs),以开展范围更广精度更高的物理实验。该装置于2007年投入运行,已取得了重要的运行结果,如实现了剥离注入与多圈注入、空心电子束对重离子束的冷却与累积、变谐波宽能区同步加速、等时性环型谱仪、RIBs的产生收集与ToF高分辨质量测量以及高能重离子束的变能慢引出等。     

Transverse characteristics of short-pulse laser-produced ion beams: a study of the acceleration dynamics

We report on first measurements of the transverse characteristics of laser-produced energetic ion beams in direct comparison to results for laser accelerated proton beams. The experiments show the same low emittance for ion beams as already found for protons. Additionally, we demonstrate that the divergence is influenced by the charge over mass ratio of the accelerated species. From these observations we deduced scaling laws for the divergence of ions as well as the temporal evolution of the ion source size.     

Distribution uniformity of laser-accelerated proton beams

Compared with conventional accelerators,laser plasma accelerators can generate high energy ions at a greatly reduced scale,due to their TV/m acceleration gradient.A compact laser plasma accelerator(CLAPA) has been built at the Institute of Heavy Ion Physics at Peking University.It will be used for applied research like biological irradiation,astrophysics simulations,etc.A beamline system with multiple quadrupoles and an analyzing magnet for laser-accelerated ions is proposed here.Since laser-accelerated ion beams have broad energy spectra and large angular divergence,the parameters(beam waist position in the Y direction,beam line layout,drift distance,magnet angles etc.) of the beamline system are carefully designed and optimised to obtain a radially symmetric proton distribution at the irradiation platform.Requirements of energy selection and differences in focusing or defocusing in application systems greatly influence the evolution of proton distributions.With optimal parameters,radially symmetric proton distributions can be achieved and protons with different energy spread within ±5% have similar transverse areas at the experiment target.     

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。     

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.     

Production of low-emittance MeV protons by localized electrons

Energetic proton beam generation and the suppression of transverse proton beam divergence are investigated in this paper. In laser-foil interactions, foil ions are accelerated by an ambipolar field created by accelerated high-energy electrons. The high-energy electrons are generated by the ponderomotive force of an intense laser. When an intense laser illuminates a hydrogen foil target, the electrons are strongly accelerated longitudinally, and a localized negative electrostatic potential is generated at the opposite side of the laser illumination. Foil protons are accelerated longitudinally and at the same time extracted to the central axis of the laser by the localized potential in the transverse direction. Consequently, transverse proton divergence is suppressed and a low-emittance MeV proton beam is produced.     

用于激光加速质子参数表征的带电粒子活化测谱技术

基于传统带电粒子活化分析技术,发展了一种用于激光加速质子参数表征的带电粒子活化测谱方法.激光加速质子轰击不同厚度铜薄膜组成的诊断滤片堆栈,使铜片活化,通过测量各铜片活度及活性区的大小,获得加速质子的空间积分能谱、角分布等参数.详细讨论了活化测谱的滤片堆栈诊断排布、符合测量及解谱方法,并对该方法的可靠性进行了自洽检验;在XG-III皮秒激光装置上开展了带电粒子活化测谱实验,利用该诊断方法,得到了加速质子的角分布、空间积分能谱等参数,实验获得的质子最高截止能量18 MeV,激光能量到质子(4 MeV)的转换效率为1.07%.