Proton acceleration due to laser plasma interactions from mass-limited spherical targets

Abstract

The proton acceleration processes involved in the interaction of an ultrashort circularly polarized laser with a near-critical density spherical target are investigated in this paper using three dimensional particles in cell simulations. Both the target size and the target density are varied to understand their influence on the accelerated beam of protons. The target is efficiently heated by relativistic transparency, and a complicated interplay is observed between the participating interaction processes. The electron heating and recirculations help in the formation of shocks which exert a further push to the protons accelerated by the electrostatic sheath formed due to the ponderomotive force. A maximum peak proton energy of about 40 MeV is observed, which is the result of the cumulative effects of various acceleration mechanisms. Electron jets are observed in the forward laser direction for the larger target size, which suppresses the energy of the proton beams.