Observation of a high degree of stopping for laser-accelerated intense proton beams in dense ionized matter

Jin Ren ,Yutong Li,Dong Wu,Benzheng Chen,D H H Hoffmann ,Binze Ma ,Zhurong Cao,Jianmei Feng ,Weizhi Qi ,Rui Cheng,Wei Liu,Ziqi Zhao ,Yuqiu Gu,Zhe Zhang,Shaoyi Wang,Hongwei Zhao,Guoqing Xiao,Leifeng Cao,Zhou Xia ,Zhigang Deng,Shaoping Zhu,Xing Wang,Shi Yin ,Weimin Zhou,Simin He ,Qunchao Fan ,Yihang Zhang,Bo Cui,Zhen Xu ,Yongtao Zhao

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18986-5

Abstract

Intense particle beams generated from the interaction of ultrahigh intensity lasers with sample foils provide options in radiography, high-yield neutron sources, high-energy-density-matter generation, and ion fast ignition. An accurate understanding of beam transportation behavior in dense matter is crucial for all these applications. Here we report the experimental evidence on one order of magnitude enhancement of intense laser-accelerated proton beam stopping in dense ionized matter, in comparison with the current-widely used models describing individual ion stopping in matter. Supported by particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, we attribute the enhancement to the strong decelerating electric field approaching 1 GV/m that can be created by the beam-driven return current. This collective effect plays the dominant role in the stopping of laser-accelerated intense proton beams in dense ionized matter. This finding is essential for the optimum design of ion driven fast ignition and inertial confinement fusion.

Highlights

Intense particle beams generated from the interaction of ultrahigh intensity lasers with sample foils provide options in radiography, high-yield neutron sources, high-energy-densitymatter generation, and ion fast ignition
Fast ignition (FI) relies even more on a detailed understanding of ultrahigh-current ion stopping in matter, which is considered as a fundamental process of utmost importance to nuclear fusion
This collective effect is the primary cause for the enhanced stopping, and it is likely to have a major impact on nuclear fusion scenarios like fast ignition, alpha-particle self-heating, as well as ion driven inertial confinement fusion

Summary

Introduction

Intense particle beams generated from the interaction of ultrahigh intensity lasers with sample foils provide options in radiography, high-yield neutron sources, high-energy-densitymatter generation, and ion fast ignition. Supported by particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, we attribute the enhancement to the strong decelerating electric field approaching 1 GV/m that can be created by the beam-driven return current This collective effect plays the dominant role in the stopping of laser-accelerated intense proton beams in dense ionized matter. This finding is essential for the optimum design of ion driven fast ignition and inertial confinement fusion. Through PIC simulation, we attribute the high degree of enhancement to a strong decelerating electric field induced by the intense proton beam This collective effect is the primary cause for the enhanced stopping, and it is likely to have a major impact on nuclear fusion scenarios like fast ignition, alpha-particle self-heating, as well as ion driven inertial confinement fusion

Methods

Results

Conclusion