Abstract
Using a two-dimensional relativistic hydrodynamic code, it is shown that a dense high-current ion beam driven by a short-pulse laser can be effectively focused by curving the target front surface. The focused beam parameters essentially depend on the density gradient scale length of the preplasma Ln and the surface curvature radius RT. When Ln⩽0.5λL (λL is the laser wavelength) and RT is comparable with the laser beam aperture dL, a significant fraction of the accelerated ions is focused on a spot much smaller than dL, which results in a considerable increase in the ion fluence and current density. Using high-contrast multipetawatt picosecond laser pulses of relativistic intensity (∼1020W∕cm2), focused ion (proton) current densities approaching those required for fast ignition of DT fuel seem to be feasible.
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