Laser ion acceleration from tailored solid targets with micron-scale channels

Abstract

Laser ion acceleration is a promising concept for the generation of fast ions using a compact laser-solid interaction setup. In this study, we theoretically investigate the feasibility of ion acceleration from the interaction of petawatt-scale laser pulses with a structured target that embodies a micron-scale channel filled with relativistically transparent plasma. Using 2D and 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and theoretical estimates, we show that it is possible to generate GeV protons with high volumetric charge and quasimonoenergetic feature in the energy spectrum. Optimal parameters of the target are obtained using 2D PIC simulations and interpreted on a basis of an analytical two-stage ion acceleration model. 3D PIC simulations and realistic preplasma profile runs with 2D PIC show the feasibility of the presented laser ion acceleration scheme for the experimental implementation at the currently available petawatt laser facilities.