Effect of metallic nanoparticles in thin foils for laser ion acceleration

Abstract

Nanostructured materials having a high absorption coefficient for visible and near-IR wavelengths can be employed to enhance the laser light energy release in micrometric thin foils in order to generate hot non-equilibrium plasmas and to transfer higher ion acceleration energy. Thin polymeric films containing nanometric spheres of metals (Ti, Cu, Ag, and Au) can be employed to be laser irradiated in a high vacuum and to study the consequent plasma ion acceleration process. Infrared laser irradiations at 1010 W cm−2 intensity, 3 ns pulse duration, and 1064 nm wavelength were employed to produce plasma accelerating ions in the backward direction. Measurements have demonstrated that the presence of nanostructures significantly increases the laser absorption effect and consequently the plasma electron temperature and density and the electric field driving the ion acceleration. Target preparation will be extended to submit thin targets to high laser intensity irradiation above 1015 W cm−2, where the effect of ion acceleration should be enhanced.